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Single Idea 23181
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / b. Basis of virtue
]
Full Idea
The good of any virtue …is referable to the common good, to which justice directs, so that all acts of virtue can pertain to justice insofar as it directs man to the common good.
Gist of Idea
All acts of virtue relate to justice, which is directed towards the common good
Source
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], II-II Q58 5)
Book Ref
Aquinas,Thomas: 'On Law, Morality and Politics', ed/tr. Baumgarth,W. /Regan R. [Hackett 1988], p.152
A Reaction
Michael Sandel has recently lamented to fading of the concept of 'the common good' from our moral and political life. In which case this thought of Aquinas takes on great importance. I certainly like it. It seems to apply to courage, for example.
The
22 ideas
with the same theme
[foundation and justification for belief in virtues]:
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5149
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The two main parts of the soul give rise to two groups of virtues - intellectual, and moral
[Aristotle]
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5156
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How can good actions breed virtues, if you need to be virtuous to perform good actions?
[Aristotle]
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5157
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If a thing has excellence, this makes the thing good, and means it functions well
[Aristotle]
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5872
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Excellence is the best state of anything (like a cloak) which has an employment or function
[Aristotle]
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625
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Is excellence separate from things, or part of them, or both?
[Aristotle]
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14060
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Prudence is the greatest good, and more valuable than philosophy, because it produces virtue
[Epicurus]
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20855
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Chrysippus says virtue can be lost (though Cleanthes says it is too secure for that)
[Chrysippus, by Diog. Laertius]
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5970
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Chrysippus says nothing is blameworthy, as everything conforms with the best nature
[Chrysippus, by Plutarch]
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23181
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All acts of virtue relate to justice, which is directed towards the common good
[Aquinas]
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21871
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The more we strive for our own advantage, the more virtuous we are
[Spinoza]
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17210
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All virtue is founded on self-preservation
[Spinoza]
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17214
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To act virtuously is to act rationally
[Spinoza]
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12515
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Actions are virtuous if they are judged praiseworthy
[Locke]
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6232
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Every creature has a right and a wrong state which guide its actions, so there must be a natural end
[Shaftesbury]
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23672
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To be virtuous, we must care about duty
[Reid]
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8097
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Virtue is hard if we are scorned; we need support
[Joubert]
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14818
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First morality is force, then custom, then acceptance, then instinct, then a pleasure - and finally 'virtue'
[Nietzsche]
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21742
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Originally virtue was obedience, to gods, government, or custom
[Russell]
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22478
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The essential thing is the 'needs' of plants and animals, and their operative parts
[Foot]
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22398
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Virtues are corrective, to resist temptation or strengthen motivation
[Foot]
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5076
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To Greeks it seemed obvious that the virtue of anything is the perfection of its function
[Taylor,R]
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20195
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Eudaimonia first; virtue is a trait which promotes it; right acts are what virtues produce
[Hursthouse, by Zagzebski]
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