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IPFS News Link • Self-Help: Rational Living

Monday freedom question: Virtues and other aspirations

• http://www.clairewolfe.com, by Claire

Well, I don't know whether you are; I just know from years of experience that the most outspoken readers of Living Freedom disdain them. Perhaps rightly so when one considers how laughably and quickly resolution breakages get rationalized.

But last week, the question of virtues and aspirations arose in these parts. It came up as a result of my uncomfortable attendance at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and this distillation of what a Boy Scout is supposed to be:

In the discussion that followed, Commentariat member David Gross linked to his own rumination on virtues, Christian, traditional Grecian, modern American, Japanese, and Aristotelian. He also noticed quite a few traits, considered admirable, that never seem to make traditional lists of virtues. Curiosity, for instance, and initiative. Creativity is another that's among the missing (though Aristotle comes close to naming that one). Willingness to question authority never, but truly never, makes the list. Hm. Wonder why that is?

Could be as Parabarbarian commented, "One problem with any list of virtues is that too many folk treat them not as ideals to aspire to but as excuses to make rules."


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