Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Consolations of Philosophy' and 'Vindication of Religion (extract)'

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2 ideas

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism

5762	The wicked want goodness, so they would not be wicked if they obtained it [Boethius]
	Full Idea: If the wicked obtained what they want - that is goodness - they could not be wicked.
	From: Boethius (The Consolations of Philosophy [c.520], IV.II)
	A reaction: This is a nice paradox which arises from Boethius being, like Socrates, an intellectualist. The question is whether the wicked want the good de re or de dicto. If they wanted to good de re (as its true self) they would obviously not be wicked.

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / c. Omissions

20869	The highest degree of morality performs all that is appropriate, omitting nothing [Chrysippus]
	Full Idea: He who makes moral progress to the highest degree performs all the appropriate actions in all circumstances, and omits none.
	From: Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]), quoted by Sophocles - Sophocles' Electra 4.39.22
	A reaction: Hence concerns about omission as well as commission in the practice of ethics can be seen in the light of character and virtue. The world is fully of nice people who act well, but don't do so well on omissions. Car drivers, for example.