The Disappearance of Deference: The Importance of Virtue

If you tackled that last post … thank you so much. The writing of that post was a bit cathartic for me, but it did bring me finally to the topic of virtue, which will close this series on deference. Virtue, according to Aristotle, is the disposition to choose the mean relative to oneself in accord with the right principle for the situation. Let me explain what Aristotle means by his idea of the mean. The mean is the middle or the moderate, and it is where I believe truth lives. Polar extremes are where we love to reside because they are quick, clear, and precise. They, however, are not home to truth. The mean emphasizes moderation which is how we are to live. For example, too much water in a short period of time can kill you; too little water over a longer period can kill you. The right amount of water throughout your life will keep you healthy. You will find that this axiom works in most of life. This mean or middle should be the position of a virtuous person. It should be the position of a wise person. We should understand that polarized positions rarely produce wise decisions, but this seems to be one of those lessons we never learn. I think it has something to do with our nature.      

Virtue, according to Aristotle, is a hexis, a state, a stable disposition, or habit of right actions at right times in right ways according to the right principles. It is doing the right thing for the situation or the moment at the expense of self. Here is the complicated part; these right actions that we choose, to be virtuous, they must also be our own choices. They cannot always be choices that come at the expense of ourselves. Aristotle’s point is that we, as people, will struggle to constantly make choices at our own expense; as a matter of human nature, we will not be able to make such choices consistently. However, if we are virtuous people in pursuit of virtue, the virtuous choices that we make will also be our personal choices because of the virtue that is part of who we are. This is why I think Aristotle found virtue so valuable. These right choices that we make are chosen because they embody a mean between desire and reason, which would make the choice, even if chosen for selfish purposes, virtuous, due to our pursuit of virtue. Again, a choice would only be virtuous if the person making the choice was pursuing virtue. We are not just virtuous; it is not a class we take or a characteristic we choose to have. Virtue is a daily pursuit that will come at the expense of self, but that daily pursuit will make us into someone who can and will choose virtue consistently.  

In a virtuous person, reason will be moral and govern desire, which was necessary to live a good life. Aristotle believed that a virtuous action involved the right balance of reason and desire. It was the coming together of the two, and their proper balance that was important, but it required a daily consistent intentional pursuit of virtue. Why was the pursuit important? If we do not pursue virtue, then we will pursue ourselves in some way. As I have referenced earlier, the wider the gap between reason and desire the more selfish and malicious we are, which will strengthen our addiction to ourselves, and that will be who we pursue. The gap is the key. This is why I believe Aristotle advocated a practical form of reasoning. 

The standard for a courageous act was not a general understanding of the act itself, those involved in the act, or even one’s feelings and perceptions of the act or the situation, but, instead, it was a personal standard based upon a principle rooted in the willingness to act against one’s better judgement for the good of others. This act often came at the expense of self, which would become a more difficult decision each time unless one was in daily pursuit of virtue. This was and is why virtue is important, but it is not a stagnate thought or an essential characteristic. It is a fluid and active posture, a mindset and a morality that must be pursued each day. 

We will not live this way if we are selfish, or if we are ruled only by desire. We will only live this way if we are virtuous, which is having the right balance of reason and desire. Our virtuous actions will be those needed for the time and the situation only if we have developed a habit of pursuing virtue daily. We will make the right choice if we have the right balance of reason and desire which will manifest as practical thinking rooted in virtue, which will produce the right action. How do we end up making more virtuous decisions than not? Well, we must possess a belief that an action for the good of others is ultimately also an action for the good of ourselves, and that is a thought only found in virtuous people. Deference for others is one indication of the presence of virtue. 

What do we see today in culture? Do we see deference for others, especially those who are different than we are? Do we see deference in our leaders, in our celebrities or professional athletes? What about truth and honesty in our leadership? What about our news media or our colleges and schools? We should not be surprised at any of what we see for one reason … virtue. Where is the next generation being taught virtue? Where are they being asked to be virtuous? Today, virtue is hardly referenced anymore. It is seen as weakness. We live in a pragmatic secular world that has lulled us to sleep with the many choices we think we have, but the harsh reality is that each choice that we make for convenience or for self is actually a choice that takes us farther away from virtue.    

Has deference left us for good? I am not sure, but I do know that the gap between reason and desire is growing, making us more selfish, more egocentric, and much more needy. If the gap continues to widen, then we can expect more of the same. Right is wrong; everyone is a victim, and no one takes responsibility for anything anymore. There will no longer any shame, and if we are no longer ashamed of anything, then there will be little difference between right and wrong. It is also an indication that reason is dying, and desire is replacing it. If we reason by desire alone, then we are back to power, and we know, all too well, that those with the most power decide our morality and our truth. If that is where we are, then the battles will be fierce because everything is on the line. What will reduce these battles? It depends on when we wake up to the importance of each other. Could it be that deference becomes important to us again? Maybe, but it will not start without a spark and that spark starts with you and me. To change the world, we must begin with ourselves, and maybe a good starting point is with deference for others.  

Thanks for suffering through this series with me. I hope you could tell from my posts, that I learned much from this series. I am so thankful you weathered the storm with me. Thank you for your perseverance of my writing and my thinking. Blessings to all of you! Until next time …