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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 22 ideas from Iris Murdoch

20765 Man is a brave naked will, separate from a background of values and realities [Murdoch]
22591 We know perfection when we see what is imperfect [Murdoch]
22341 Literature is the most important aspect of culture, because it teaches understanding of living [Murdoch]
23563 Philosophy moves continually between elaborate theories and the obvious facts [Murdoch]
22338 An unexamined life can be virtuous [Murdoch]
22337 Philosophy must keep returning to the beginning [Murdoch]
22339 Love is a central concept in morals [Murdoch]
22343 If I attend properly I will have no choices [Murdoch]
22340 It is hard to learn goodness from others, because their virtues are part of their personal history [Murdoch]
22342 Kantian existentialists care greatly for reasons for action, whereas Surrealists care nothing [Murdoch]
22345 Moral philosophy needs a central concept with all the traditional attributes of God [Murdoch]
22348 Ordinary human love is good evidence of transcendent goodness [Murdoch]
22346 Moral reflection and experience gradually reveals unity in the moral world [Murdoch]
22347 Appreciating beauty in art or nature opens up the good life, by restricting selfishness [Murdoch]
22350 Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own [Murdoch]
22349 Art trains us in the love of virtue [Murdoch]
22351 Only a philosopher might think choices create values [Murdoch]
22709 We should first decide what are the great works of art, with aesthetic theory following from that [Murdoch]
22712 Art and morals are essentially the same, and are both identical with love [Murdoch]
22713 Love is realising something other than oneself is real [Murdoch]
22715 Great art proves the absurdity of art for art's sake [Murdoch]
22714 Because art is love, it improves us morally [Murdoch]