Comments on: All about virtue… sort of http://www.virtue-quest.com/2010/01/all-about-virtue-sort-of/ A practical approach to the classical virtues Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:16:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Siobhan http://www.virtue-quest.com/2010/01/all-about-virtue-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Siobhan Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:36:42 +0000 http://www.virtue-quest.com/?p=370#comment-92 How interesting that you chose to use the drowning kid example, because IMHO that example demonstrates exactly my point that prudence and courage and all the other virtues are separate and distinct from each other. If someone sees a drowning kid in some river rapids, regardless of how courageous he or she is, the prudent thing for that person to do is to make sure he does not unreasonably put his own life in jeopardy (think how we're supposed to put our own oxygen masks on before we do that for our kids). How interesting that you chose to use the drowning kid example, because IMHO that example demonstrates exactly my point that prudence and courage and all the other virtues are separate and distinct from each other. If someone sees a drowning kid in some river rapids, regardless of how courageous he or she is, the prudent thing for that person to do is to make sure he does not unreasonably put his own life in jeopardy (think how we’re supposed to put our own oxygen masks on before we do that for our kids).

]]> By: Robert http://www.virtue-quest.com/2010/01/all-about-virtue-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Robert Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:23:08 +0000 http://www.virtue-quest.com/?p=370#comment-90 I guess I would say that, yes, you can be fairly prudent without being patient and courageous and so on ... up to a point. But the lack of the other virtues will, sooner or later, get in the way of your ability to *be* prudent. For example, without courage, prudence is impotent in the face of a risky or dangerous situation. It would say, "Yep, I sure ought to jump into the river to save those drowning kids," but wouldn't be able to actually *do* the prudent thing. And virtue is all about action. At least, that's how it makes sense to me. I guess I would say that, yes, you can be fairly prudent without being patient and courageous and so on … up to a point. But the lack of the other virtues will, sooner or later, get in the way of your ability to *be* prudent.

For example, without courage, prudence is impotent in the face of a risky or dangerous situation. It would say, “Yep, I sure ought to jump into the river to save those drowning kids,” but wouldn’t be able to actually *do* the prudent thing.

And virtue is all about action. At least, that’s how it makes sense to me.

]]> By: Siobhan http://www.virtue-quest.com/2010/01/all-about-virtue-sort-of/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Siobhan Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:28:57 +0000 http://www.virtue-quest.com/?p=370#comment-88 Perhaps it is because I know absolutely nothing about philosophy (aside from the falling tree noise cliche), I respectfully disagree with your assessement that "every virtue implies every other, ultimately." To prove my point, let's say I'm a very prudent person. If what you said is true, doesn't the fact that I am prudent imply that I am also patient and courageous and everything else? I can assure you that makes no sense--at least to me. On the other hand, I'm 100% with you on the ice cream. :) Perhaps it is because I know absolutely nothing about philosophy (aside from the falling tree noise cliche), I respectfully disagree with your assessement that “every virtue implies every other, ultimately.” To prove my point, let’s say I’m a very prudent person. If what you said is true, doesn’t the fact that I am prudent imply that I am also patient and courageous and everything else? I can assure you that makes no sense–at least to me. On the other hand, I’m 100% with you on the ice cream. :)

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