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Single Idea 503
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
]
Full Idea
Virtue consists, not in avoiding wrong-doing, but in having no wish thereto.
Gist of Idea
Virtue doesn't just avoid evil, but also doesn't desire it
Source
Democritus (attrib) (reports [c.250 BCE], B062), quoted by John Stobaeus - Anthology 3.17.37
Book Ref
'Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers', ed/tr. Freeman,Kathleen [Harvard 1957], p.100
The
44 ideas
with the same theme
[why people might want to be virtuous]:
6324
|
To gain in goodness, treat as good those who are good, and those who are not
[Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
|
345
|
A good man cannot be harmed, either in life or in death
[Socrates]
|
120
|
Should we avoid evil because it will bring us bad consequences?
[Plato]
|
4332
|
Virtue is a concord of reason and emotion, with pleasure and pain trained to correct ends
[Plato]
|
248
|
A serious desire for moral excellence is very rare indeed
[Plato]
|
253
|
Every crime is the result of excessive self-love
[Plato]
|
263
|
The only worthwhile life is one devoted to physical and moral perfection
[Plato]
|
144
|
Reason impels us towards excellence, which teaches us self-control
[Plato]
|
5944
|
For Plato, virtue is its own reward
[Lawson-Tancred on Plato]
|
170
|
The only slavery which is not dishonourable is slavery to excellence
[Plato]
|
182
|
The first step on the right path is the contemplation of physical beauty when young
[Plato]
|
5225
|
The end of virtue is what is right and honourable or fine
[Aristotle]
|
56
|
A person is good if they act from choice, and for the sake of the actions in themselves
[Aristotle]
|
93
|
Existence is desirable if one is conscious of one's own goodness
[Aristotle]
|
22557
|
Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city
[Aristotle]
|
2841
|
People become good because of nature, habit and reason
[Aristotle]
|
1841
|
We choose virtue because of pleasure, not for its own sake
[Epicurus, by Diog. Laertius]
|
497
|
Be virtuous from duty, not from fear
[Democritus (attr)]
|
503
|
Virtue doesn't just avoid evil, but also doesn't desire it
[Democritus (attr)]
|
518
|
A bad life is just a drawn-out death
[Democritus (attr)]
|
2672
|
Virtues must be very detached, to avoid being motivated by pleasure
[Cicero]
|
6290
|
Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter heaven
[Jesus]
|
13559
|
I seek virtue, because it is its own reward
[Seneca]
|
23354
|
If someone harms themselves in harming me, then I harm myself by returning the harm
[Epictetus]
|
18444
|
Civil virtues make us behave benevolently, and thereby unite citizens
[Porphyry]
|
18445
|
Civil virtues control the passions, and make us conform to our nature
[Porphyry]
|
18446
|
Purificatory virtues detach the soul completely from the passions
[Porphyry]
|
20482
|
Virtue inspires Stoics, but I want a good temperament
[Montaigne]
|
2383
|
Virtues are a means to peaceful, sociable and comfortable living
[Hobbes]
|
7913
|
Virtue doesn't go far without the support of vanity
[Rochefoucauld]
|
4580
|
All virtues benefit either the public, or the individual who possesses them
[Hume]
|
21436
|
We are obliged to show the social virtues, but at least they make a virtuous disposition fashionable
[Kant]
|
1456
|
Moral law is holy, and the best we can do is achieve virtue through respect for the law
[Kant]
|
3771
|
Virtues only have value because they achieve some further end
[Mill]
|
14817
|
The 'good' man does the moral thing as if by nature, easily and gladly, after a long inheritance
[Nietzsche]
|
4511
|
We would avoid a person who always needed reasons for remaining decent
[Nietzsche]
|
4512
|
Virtue is pursued from self-interest and prudence, and reduces people to non-entities
[Nietzsche]
|
9251
|
One can be virtuous through a whim
[Camus]
|
22468
|
Virtues can have aims, but good states of affairs are not among them
[Foot]
|
4112
|
A crucial feature of moral thought is second-order desire - the desire to have certain desires
[Williams,B]
|
3541
|
Ancient ethics uses attractive notions, not imperatives
[Annas]
|
4349
|
Virtuous people may not be fully clear about their reasons for action
[Hursthouse]
|
4352
|
Performing an act simply because it is virtuous is sufficient to be 'morally motivated' or 'dutiful'
[Hursthouse]
|
4353
|
If moral motivation is an all-or-nothing sense of duty, how can children act morally?
[Hursthouse]
|