Sunday, March 22, 2009

Virtue

Whatever we do, we can be virtuous or not virtuous. Even in war, we can be more or less virtuous.
So to be virtuous is not to do something particular, but it concerns how we do whatever we do.
What we do is important, for society and for the individual. If someone interferes in our choice of activity, that might be quite non virtuous. In a world of increasing control, it is popular to interfere in this way.
The rules of virtue are stated negatively: not to kill, not to lie, not to steal.
This implies that there are very many good things we can do. As long as we do not kill, steal or lie, we are virtuous.
In some sects, the idea of virtue is used in an extremely strict sense. Watching television, movies or reading certain books might be considered non virtuous.
It is popular to impose ones own strict rules upon others. The Taliban in Afghanistan have strong opinions about hair style and dress, for example There are more examples.
Is this good? United Nations invaded Afghanistan militarily to drive the Talibans out of power.
So in this case, even UN considered the strict rules to be too strict.
In the sects, virtue is a cause for doing bad. Forcing others to follow strange rules is bad.
Good virtue is to act in a way that is good and nice for others. This should hold for those who advocate virtue as well.,

No comments:

Post a Comment