[lit-ideas] Re: virtue-practical example of being taught
- From: "Mike Geary" <atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 13:44:49 -0600
Marlena ponders:
>> The concept of 'in the eye of the beholder', though, is one to ponder. Is
>> it possible that what, for me, makes someone 'kind' is not 'kind' to someone
>> else? <<
Not only possible, but for certain, I'd say. Only look to the Schiavo case for
confirmation. "Whose standards?", Paul Stone demands to know. One's own, of
course. I agree with Paul that virtue is a judgment made about others, and
made according to one's own notions of virtue. To consider oneself virtuous is
almost an oxymoron and we all know what morons oxen are. If you etymologize
'virture' -- as opposed to 'excellence' another translation of Greek 'arete'
-- you find the Roman notion of 'manliness' all mixed in, which, I assume, has
nothing to do with penis size but with courage -- we all know what cowards
women are, don't we? And on my part, I confess a prejudice against declaring
something action virtuous if there's no cost in it to the actor. Christopher
Hitchen's is not a virtuous person, in my book. Is Mother Teresa? I don't
know. Closer to it than Christopher, for sure, but I'd admire her more if she
had been an atheist doing her work solely for the benefit of humanity. But
even with her faults she certainly outshines me in her works of charity. I
dasn't judge her. Marlena's pondering whether a man who abandoned his family
to do charitable works would be virtuous? Certainly not in my judgment. But
didn't Jesus called for us to leave our families and follow him. So Jesus
might find such a person virtuous. But then Jesus and I differ on a lot of
things. But I'm sure he doesn't vote Republican, so I can forgive him some of
his foibles.
And alas, no one is virtuous, but always only becoming virtuous so sayeth the
Socrates.
Mike Geary
Memphis
----- Original Message -----
From: Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 12:51 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: virtue-practical example of being taught
In a message dated 1/1/2006 12:35:10 P.M. Central Standard Time, pas@xxxxxxxx
writes:
Muslim extremists would agree with the boy scouts.
Which goes to show that 'virtuous' actions are in the eye of the beholder.
Hi,
Do you think the word "kind" fits in within the Muslim extremist viewpoint?
It's a huge one within Boy Scouts. (as is the 'do a good turn daily") Or,
"friendly" or "helpful" or "courteous"?
Within Girl Scouts, there is the "considerate and caring" as well as
"friendly and helpful".
Those all seem to not be there within a Muslim extremist viewpoint...
The dream of the scouting movement was that if all embraced those qualities,
there would not be things like war--there would be 'common ground' and
understanding. I grant you--it was at the end of his life when Baden-Powell saw
what happened within WWII and he was absolutely appalled and his heart was
broken.
Would a person, in Mikey's viewpoint, who joined Doctors without Borders and
who left all the time to ''save the world" but leaving spouse/kids alone when
maybe at least one of the kids desperately needed that second parents 'around'
(love language of 'time', I would say--for words of affirmation could now be
given over the phone, acts of service kid would understand the same, etc.
"Time" and "Touch" however are harder to replace from a distance...) At that
point, one wonders at the value of virtue which is touching/saving other parts
of the world but not one own's home world.
I know it CAN be done--but it is harder depending on how it is communicated
to those in one's life. And, if one focuses on being a doctor in one own's
community because of the issue of having a spouse or child who could not handle
him/her being gone--is that person less virtuous if he/she stays home, makes
lots of $$ but also shares with others in one's own community his/her
expertise, money? [and maybe is one of the main supporters of his/her friend
who is involved in Doctors Without Borders...]
Lots to think about,
Marlena in Missouri
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