6 ideas
7101 | Virtue theory needs an external standard to judge behaviour and character [Inwagen, by Statman] |
Full Idea: Virtue theory leaves out something essential, namely, the existence of a standard of behaviour which is prior to and independent of human character, in terms of which we evaluate the behaviour and character of ourselves and others. | |
From: report of Peter van Inwagen (Response to Slote [1990]) by Daniel Statman - Introduction to Virtue Ethics §5 | |
A reaction: This sounds very like Moore's Naturalistic Fallacy. Personally I prefer Aristotle's naturalistic reliance on human nature and function to Moore's totally unjustified intuitionist Platonism. How can anything be good if it isn't supposed to do anything? |
13554 | True greatness is never allowing events to disturb you [Seneca] |
Full Idea: There is no more reliable proof of greatness than to be in a state where nothing can happen to make you disturbed. | |
From: Seneca the Younger (On Anger (Book 3) [c.60], §06) | |
A reaction: He specifically opposes Aristotle's view that there are times when anger is appropriate, and failure to be very angry indeed is a failure of character. |
13556 | Every night I critically review how I have behaved during the day [Seneca] |
Full Idea: When the lamp has been removed from my sight, and my wife, no stranger now to my habit, has fallen silent, I examine the whole of my day and retrace my actions and words; I hide nothing from myself. | |
From: Seneca the Younger (On Anger (Book 3) [c.60], §36) |
7903 | 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'). |
13552 | Anger is an extreme vice, threatening sanity, and gripping whole states [Seneca] |
Full Idea: Other vices drive the mind on, anger hurls it headlong; ..other vices revolt from good sense, this one from sanity; ...other vices seize individuals, this is the one passion that sometimes takes hold of an entire state. | |
From: Seneca the Younger (On Anger (Book 3) [c.60], §01) | |
A reaction: He particularly dislikes anger because it is the vice that leads to violence. |
13553 | Anger is a vice which afflicts good men as well as bad [Seneca] |
Full Idea: Other vile passions affect only the worst sort of men, but anger creeps up even on enlightened me who are otherwise sane. | |
From: Seneca the Younger (On Anger (Book 3) [c.60], §04) | |
A reaction: A very interesting observation for anyone who is trying to analyse the key issues in virtue theory. |