Human Virtue in the Writings of Plato, Aristotle and Cicero Throughout history, all cultures have valued virtue. Although the specific meaning of the word has varied based on a particular society, virtue generally refers to the characteristics of good, ethical and moral conduct in an individual. Differences of opinion exist, however, with exactly what constitutes a virtue, such as patience, humility, self-control, modesty, generosity, courage and honesty. For western civilization, the Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, and the Roman philosopher, Cicero, have had a strong influence on the concept of virtue. All valued virtue, but they have different approaches on what virtue is and how to achieve it. Based on the assigned readings, the
…show more content…
To talk about virtue and to teach others to examine virtue in their own lives is the greatest good. One of Socrates’ most famous statements is “the unexamined life is not worth living” (39).
After he is sentenced to death, he proclaims, “I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live” (39). His final request to the Men of Athens is to punish his own sons if they care about riches, or anything else, more than virtue or pretend to be something they are not.
In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato emphasizes the virtue of wisdom and how it might be attained. Some human virtues can be learned by habit and exercise, but “the virtue of wisdom, more than anything else contains a divine element which always remains” (48). The prisoners bound in the darkness of the cave represent people in society who have not yet been exposed to the realities of the world of knowledge and wisdom. Leaders who have been enlightened should return to the cave of ignorance and share the truth that they have received. Unless virtuous leaders teach them, the prisoners will remain in darkness. To help someone with lesser knowledge or status than oneself is a
To talk about virtue and to teach others to examine virtue in their own lives is the greatest good. One of Socrates’ most famous statements is “the unexamined life is not worth living” (39).
After he is sentenced to death, he proclaims, “I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live” (39). His final request to the Men of Athens is to punish his own sons if they care about riches, or anything else, more than virtue or pretend to be something they are not.
In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato emphasizes the virtue of wisdom and how it might be attained. Some human virtues can be learned by habit and exercise, but “the virtue of wisdom, more than anything else contains a divine element which always remains” (48). The prisoners bound in the darkness of the cave represent people in society who have not yet been exposed to the realities of the world of knowledge and wisdom. Leaders who have been enlightened should return to the cave of ignorance and share the truth that they have received. Unless virtuous leaders teach them, the prisoners will remain in darkness. To help someone with lesser knowledge or status than oneself is a