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Single Idea 17221

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / j. Unity of virtue ]

Full Idea

The man who is ignorant of himself is ignorant of the foundation of all the virtues, and consequently is ignorant of all the virtues.

Gist of Idea

A man ignorant of himself is ignorant of all of the virtues

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], IV Pr 56)

Book Ref

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.203

A Reaction

This would appeal to Aristotle, for whom the social virtues are an aspect of one's own character, and not a calculation made about externals.

Related Idea

Idea 17220 Self-satisfaction is the highest thing for which we can hope [Spinoza]

The 19 ideas with the same theme [all virtues are variants of a single thing]:

4111 Socrates believed that basically there is only one virtue, the power of right judgement [Socrates, by Williams,B]
277 The Guardians must aim to discover the common element in the four cardinal virtues [Plato]
1916 Even if virtues are many and various, they must have something in common to make them virtues [Plato]
1918 How can you know part of virtue without knowing the whole? [Plato]
2155 True goodness requires mental unity and harmony [Plato]
4117 Nowadays we (unlike Aristotle) seem agreed that someone can have one virtue but lack others [Williams,B on Aristotle]
23910 Greatness of soul produces all the virtues - and vice versa [Aristotle]
13561 Virtue is always moderate, so excess need not be feared [Seneca]
5759 Varied aims cannot be good because they differ, but only become good when they unify [Boethius]
17221 A man ignorant of himself is ignorant of all of the virtues [Spinoza]
21418 There is one principle of virtues; the virtues are distinguished by their objects [Kant]
24103 You should not want too many virtues; one is enough [Nietzsche]
22346 Moral reflection and experience gradually reveals unity in the moral world [Murdoch]
22350 Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own [Murdoch]
22456 Maybe virtues conflict with each other, if some virtue needs a vice for its achievement [Foot]
20213 We need phronesis to coordinate our virtues [Zagzebski]
4354 Maybe in a deeply poisoned character none of their milder character traits could ever be a virtue [Hursthouse]
4356 We are puzzled by a person who can show an exceptional virtue and also behave very badly [Hursthouse]
4364 Being unusually virtuous in some areas may entail being less virtuous in others [Hursthouse]