18 December 2011
What is virtue?
Socrates a man of many questions, desired to find the universal definition of all the individual virtues. He asked: “What is justice? What is courage? What is wisdom? What is moderation? What is piety?”
Understanding the essentials of life to be “Know Thyself” and becoming better person–developing wisdom is to become virtuous. It is said that ignorance is bliss, but Socrates states, ignorance is equivalent to not knowing what virtue is.
Although Plato wrote without answers in his dialogues, Aristotle sought final answers, he studied all subjects in methodological ways.
In disagreement with the pre-Socrates philosophers, Aristotle believed in sensory perception and is reliability in attaining truth–common sense.
Art has purpose, it imitates nature.
The art that I am most concerned in, is not of perception and persuasion, but of understanding and living a virtuous life style.
There are two types of virtues: intellectual and moral/ethical. Intellectual, obviously relates to the study of mathematics,physics, philosophy, and other fields, as taught by teachers. Intellectual virtue is experience the best life, a life of study, according the Plato.
However, moral virtue is much more personal. Courage, piety, justice, and temperance are all learned by habit. As repeated patterns of behavior, imposed by external constraint, it is most important to live a life of moderation. Finding the “right mean” is represented by a balance of fear and confidence: courage. It is important to have not too much nor too little of any one thing, characteristic, or person. Moderation.
Recently a travel friend claimed that I point out when I know the right answer, and therefore, his favorite thing is to joke when he is right before I am. I have been oblivious to this part of our relationship for 4 months. How? It is best to know now that never at all, but now I am conflicted by pride…again.
Obadiah 4 “But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, ‘I will bring you crashing down,’ says the Lord.”
God, may my heart be broken for what breaks yours. May I hide beneath your eagle’s wings and only regain sight in the experiences you have sought out for me alone. I do not need to be blinded by my own desires, only Yours for me. This is important, as Your Son sacrificed His life for mine, and now I must make this debt repaid. My life is not a payment, but an offering to you Lord…for I am to adore You, and I pray that I do live by faith. Faith without seeing, but faith in knowing your Love is in me always and forever.
Moderation between fear and confidence is courage: may I have the courage today and tomorrow to live fully for You! May we give up our concerns, fear only you, and never see ourselves greater than you were as a servant. May we live fully for You alone.
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