Virtues In A Vacuum
There are few qualities that can exist by themselves in a person and retain their value.
Honesty has no value in itself if you are honestly cruel. Honesty must be coupled with good intentions. Even then, you need wisdom to properly act on those honest good intentions.
Tolerance is only good when you tolerate those things that have inherent goodness in them. Should you tolerate the massacre of others if you have the means to resist?
Oftentimes, it is the most well-meaning men and women who do the greatest harm to the world in the name of false causes or due to lack of foresight. Robert E. Lee, despite his virtues of loyalty, kindness, integrity and military brilliance still chose the wrong side and fought and killed for a government that espoused human bondage and torture. How many of us, at the last day will throw up our hands and cry out "I was deceived!?!"
Virtues must act in concert if they are to bring about good. We must seek a hierarchy of virtue in our lives and then a hierarchy of understanding. We must follow the dictates of our conscience but also the call of common sense. We will not always make the right decisions. But we must accept that most often we will make the better decision when it brings about what we can see as the greater good.
Honesty has no value in itself if you are honestly cruel. Honesty must be coupled with good intentions. Even then, you need wisdom to properly act on those honest good intentions.
Tolerance is only good when you tolerate those things that have inherent goodness in them. Should you tolerate the massacre of others if you have the means to resist?
Oftentimes, it is the most well-meaning men and women who do the greatest harm to the world in the name of false causes or due to lack of foresight. Robert E. Lee, despite his virtues of loyalty, kindness, integrity and military brilliance still chose the wrong side and fought and killed for a government that espoused human bondage and torture. How many of us, at the last day will throw up our hands and cry out "I was deceived!?!"
Virtues must act in concert if they are to bring about good. We must seek a hierarchy of virtue in our lives and then a hierarchy of understanding. We must follow the dictates of our conscience but also the call of common sense. We will not always make the right decisions. But we must accept that most often we will make the better decision when it brings about what we can see as the greater good.
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