ON VIRTUE. 3 REASONS ANCIENT VIRTUES TRUMP CORE VALUES.
Virtue is not a word that gets passed around in western culture all that much anymore. At Philosopher Kings, we think virtue— as an ethical concept and cardinal virtues as life disciplines— should mark all top-drawer, young professionals.
You want to set yourself apart in the stack of applications?
Do you desire to be in a class all your own in your hospital/office/firm?
Then stop what you are doing and gain virtue. Here are 3 reasons that gaining the ancient quality of virtue will set you apart as a young professional and person.
One. Virtue is Fair Game for Everyone.
Virtue is the ancient word for excellence. It comes from the Latin word vir and the Greek word ἀρετὴ, and over time it came to mean the moral character of a person. This character was expressed in individual character qualities that a person lived out. For example
wisdom- a person with wisdom makes great, practical daily decisions.
courage- a person with courage is unafraid to take shots.
justice- a person with justice gives everyone a fair deal.
moderation- a person with moderation does not do anything to a damaging point.
piety- a person with piety has gratitude, wonder, and connected to God/source.
philanthropy- a person with philanthropy works/gives to the greater good of humankind.
humility- a person with humility is high competency, low ego.
These are character traits we admire today, and it is because they have been admired for at least two millennia.
We respect a person who has a great radar for justice. We love a person who despite great talent, carry themselves with humility. We revere someone who has gained riches but finds their truest wealth from giving through philanthropy. We respect people who possess moral character, expressed in these character qualities automatically— it’s because they are central to our Western heritage.
Here is my favorite thing about ancient virtues: they are fair game for everyone. They do not belong to a religion, a country, a creed, or a political group. Whoever you are, wherever you are, you can start to reap the benefits of becoming virtuous. You can make yourself and every relationship you have better at any moment by thinking, speaking, and acting with virtue. Virtue is fair game for everyone.
Two. In a Fight Between Ancient Virtues and Personal Values. Virtue Wins.
You hear a lot of rattle in the modern self-help market about defining your personal, core values. In my opinion, this only goes halfway in the first place….
The real place to go regarding core values: What exactly makes you compromise your personal values and why? What people, places, and things make you revert or disown your core values, and why? How do you stay aligned with them? But that’s a digression, because I think ancient virtues are WAY BETTER than personal values. Here’s just a couple reasons why (one time I listed out a bunch— we recreate the list or something similar on one of our Philosophical Treks)…
First, ancient virtues are ancient. They are really old and have guided demi-gods and heroes, and even average people like us (mythological wink) for a long, long time. If “moderation” has lasted from the time of Homer the poet to the time of Homer the Simpson, it might be worth looking into.
Second, ancient virtues are not relative. Ancient philosophers, historians, playwrights, and poets used them as lists and they used them frequently. They seriously moved from the earliest ink jots of poets like Theognis or Pindar, to philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, to Sophist like Isocrates, to the Roman imperial slogans, to neo-platonic and stoic philosophy, to biblical literature, to Judeo-Christian thought for both the ancient rabbis and the church fathers. That’s a long, long legacy. And they are not relative. Virtues are consistent and concise; designed to quickly and deeply define what marks a good life.
Three. Virtue Will Make You Uncommonly Hopeful and Helpful.
Ever notice how everyone seems sarcastic, jaded, full of a dark sense of humor that only thinly veils existential dread for the fact that our world is a shit show lately? Or something like that (no punches pulled). Our culture is more cynical than ever, and it’s definitely starting to invade the office. Especially Gary. What’s his deal?
Seriously though, one of my favorite lines from the Jewish rabbinic tradition challenges us,
“in the place where one one is being a human, go and be one.”
Virtue does that. Gain the virtues I listed above, and you will become hopeful, helpful, full of purpose, and a true warrior against all of the people giving up around you.
I’m being completely and gravely serious.
Virtue will make you a moral compass (if you are kind) to almost everyone around you. In a sea of liars you will be honest, because justice means giving everyone a fair deal, and giving everyone a fair deal means speaking the truth. Do you know how few people are completely truthful in high pressure professional settings?
In a mob of drunks you will use moderation, think, speak, and act clearly and with purpose. You will trust yourself at work and on the weekend.
In a crowd of cowardice you will have bravery. You will not be afraid to take shots in the face of risk, death, or any other surly monster of modernity. And so you will be innovative, speak up when it is time, and even admit when you were wrong.
Why do you need to be kind? Because the joy of virtue comes from helping others. And no one likes a self-righteous know it all. Really though, virtue plus kindness equals a better you and a better world around you. Being uniquely moral while being remarkable lover of people will make you stand out in the right kind of way.
Sounds Great. Where Can I Start to Learn More About Ancient Virtue That Helps My Every Day?
Sound pretty rad, ninja turtle? Where does one start to gain virtue and defeat the ekpyrosis Shredder? Lucky for you, all Philosopher Kings content is designed to give you either a 1) belief to hold or a 2) tool you can use to be a better professional and human.
Here are some ways to start gaining virtue and internal authority on your young professional journey.
Here are a couple of ways to grow for free.
Philosopher Kings Facebook Group, a community of high performers going pro at being human!
Listen to the Podcast, where we break down the basic principles of what makes a Philosopher King. In fact, here’s a link to a fun episode with similar content:
And here are some ways to go farther faster in virtue and practice:
Sign up for the Philosopher Kings MEMO, a good-old fashioned 10 page Memo that will be most fun and formative thing you read each month.