Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'On Probability and Induction' and '21: Book of Ecclesiastes'

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2 ideas

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues
All is vanity, saith the Preacher [Anon (Ecc)]
     Full Idea: Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
     From: Anon (Ecc) (21: Book of Ecclesiastes [c.200 BCE], 01.02)
     A reaction: If we are swamped by vanity, then there is presumably no hope for the other virtues. A more balanced view would say that we should aim for a mean on the scale of self-esteem, which probably requires an effort to be objective about ourselves.
The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna]
     Full Idea: The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.
     From: Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88)
     A reaction: What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate').