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Single Idea 22350
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / j. Unity of virtue
]
Full Idea
It would be impossible to have only one virtue, unless it were a very trivial one such as thrift.
Gist of Idea
Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own
Source
Iris Murdoch (The Sovereignty of Good [1970], III)
Book Ref
Murdoch,Iris: 'The Sovereignty of Good' [RKP 1974], p.95
A Reaction
A nicely nuanced commitment to the unity of virtue. You might exhibit courage alone in a brute animal way, but the sort of courage we all admire is part of more extended virtues.
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[all virtues are variants of a single thing]:
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4111
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Socrates believed that basically there is only one virtue, the power of right judgement
[Socrates, by Williams,B]
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277
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The Guardians must aim to discover the common element in the four cardinal virtues
[Plato]
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1916
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Even if virtues are many and various, they must have something in common to make them virtues
[Plato]
|
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1918
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How can you know part of virtue without knowing the whole?
[Plato]
|
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2155
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True goodness requires mental unity and harmony
[Plato]
|
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4117
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Nowadays we (unlike Aristotle) seem agreed that someone can have one virtue but lack others
[Williams,B on Aristotle]
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23910
|
Greatness of soul produces all the virtues - and vice versa
[Aristotle]
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13561
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Virtue is always moderate, so excess need not be feared
[Seneca]
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5759
|
Varied aims cannot be good because they differ, but only become good when they unify
[Boethius]
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17221
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A man ignorant of himself is ignorant of all of the virtues
[Spinoza]
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21418
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There is one principle of virtues; the virtues are distinguished by their objects
[Kant]
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24103
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You should not want too many virtues; one is enough
[Nietzsche]
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22346
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Moral reflection and experience gradually reveals unity in the moral world
[Murdoch]
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22350
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Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own
[Murdoch]
|
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22456
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Maybe virtues conflict with each other, if some virtue needs a vice for its achievement
[Foot]
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20213
|
We need phronesis to coordinate our virtues
[Zagzebski]
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4354
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Maybe in a deeply poisoned character none of their milder character traits could ever be a virtue
[Hursthouse]
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4356
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We are puzzled by a person who can show an exceptional virtue and also behave very badly
[Hursthouse]
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4364
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Being unusually virtuous in some areas may entail being less virtuous in others
[Hursthouse]
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