What are values but ethics, and what are ethics but virtues? If one can set his own moral standard, that is if one can do no wrong, then how is virtue different from vice?
When I was a freshman I read the book Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. While I take issue with some of his points, he taught me something valuable—that passion inspires passion. The reason virtue is not more popular is mainly because defenders of virtue have little passion, yet there are many people who are passionate about their vices. Virtue is not just a personal set of values; it is something that should impact everyone around you in a positive way, just as your vices impact everyone around you negatively. Kreeft says, “God can more easily cool our wrath than fire our frozenness.”
I'm having fun relating what I learned back in the day to the Truth Project which I'm currently going through.
Excellent point that virture is perhaps not more popular because the virtuous are not as overtly passionate as the immoral are about their vices. This makes no sense to me because the virtuous have every reason to be passionate about their virtues even more so than the immoral. There is unbelievable freedom with virtue which leaves one with peace, joy, and inner satisfaction; whereas, vice leaves one ultimately void of purpose and emotionally empty. Why are the virtuous not as overtly passionate I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI read a book once by Ryan Dobson called "Be Intolerant." Sounds somewhat similar to the one you read.
I agree it makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteIn economics, our arguments are only as good as our assumptions. One fundamental assumption we almost always make is that people act rationally. Yet in the Bible Paul, presumably a rational person, does not always ACT rationally: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do," (Romans 7:15).
Still other people actually THINK irrationally. They deceive themselves that vice is virtue, or at least a more enjoyable option, and pursue it passionately.
You can see what a wrench this throws into economic analysis of human behavior :-)