[lit-ideas] Re: another question
- From: "Mike Geary" <atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:49:11 -0600
William Ball:
Can virtue be taught, whatever "virtue" may mean?
Everything is learned. Everything, that is, except some rudimentary
physical instincts like sucking. Principles can certainly be taught, but I
don't know if you can teach virtue (assuming virtue is behavior based on
principles). Take, for example, two doctors, both value life. One becomes
a heart surgeon and makes a million dollars, the other joins Doctors Without
Borders and lives modestly all his life. To me the second man is far more
virtuous than the first though the first may live an exemplary life. Was
the second man taught to be virtuous or did he learn to be through some life
experiences that are not reducible to some lessons? I think the latter. He
was taught principles, but life made him virtuous.
Mike Geary
Memphis
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