What is virtue? Is it a physical possession, an emotion explicitly felt, or behavior meant to elicit feelings from someone? Is it the guidelines of which a person lives their day-to-day life? Maybe it’s something more broad and germane to a specific race, or imposed of on a select group of individuals. According to Oxforddictionaries.com virtue is, “Behavior showing high moral standards”. This definition encompasses Confucius’s Five Constant Virtues: Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin. These constant virtues, “…have great significance today and whose value to the development of human civilization is now widely recognized” (Jinxi). One of the five constant values that resonate best with me is Li. The contents of Li include chastity, propriety, filial
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“To the Chinese, it is the central ideology, and moreover, provides the foundation for all other attitudes” (Huang). In American society, filial piety is inexistent and not a way of life. There’s a fascinating quote from a famous Chinese stating, “If one does not have piety towards one’s own parents, then how can one be loyal towards one’s friends, country, or any other?” (Huang). In an age of rebellion towards authority figures and a rise of independence in America, it’s hard to believe that a society in its entirety has lost piety and respect for the parents. For the most part, our parent’s not only gave us breathe of life, but also cared and loved us when no one else could; with exclusion to the parents that didn’t, hence to my definition are not parents at all. Having piety towards our parents are the building blocks to success in our future as well as outlining our appreciation of respect and loyalty towards friends and other family …show more content…
In a society where, “Having children outside of marriage is very much ‘the new normal’”, the once popular option to refrain from extramarital activities is few and far between (Weissmann). With contraceptives being considered irreverent and sexual intercourse before marriage being glorified in today’s society, I find it hard to fit in amongst peers. I’d rather chase my purpose on this earth and build meaningful relationships, rather than chase society’s popular decision. In recognizing the reward of patience in chastity, I’ve been able to discern the difference between love and lust. I need to know if I can hold an intellectual conversation with someone, if our values are intertwined, and if we’re compatible before I make such a rash decision that could come with great responsibilities. I don’t want to be 21 struggling to provide for myself, sacrificing, or putting aside my dreams, to raise a child on my own. I also don’t want to go through the trauma of an abortion because I didn’t take the time to get to know the person engaged in copulation with. Hence, patience is a virtue that should be deliberated in modern day society since the consequences of not refraining from chastity are
“To the Chinese, it is the central ideology, and moreover, provides the foundation for all other attitudes” (Huang). In American society, filial piety is inexistent and not a way of life. There’s a fascinating quote from a famous Chinese stating, “If one does not have piety towards one’s own parents, then how can one be loyal towards one’s friends, country, or any other?” (Huang). In an age of rebellion towards authority figures and a rise of independence in America, it’s hard to believe that a society in its entirety has lost piety and respect for the parents. For the most part, our parent’s not only gave us breathe of life, but also cared and loved us when no one else could; with exclusion to the parents that didn’t, hence to my definition are not parents at all. Having piety towards our parents are the building blocks to success in our future as well as outlining our appreciation of respect and loyalty towards friends and other family …show more content…
In a society where, “Having children outside of marriage is very much ‘the new normal’”, the once popular option to refrain from extramarital activities is few and far between (Weissmann). With contraceptives being considered irreverent and sexual intercourse before marriage being glorified in today’s society, I find it hard to fit in amongst peers. I’d rather chase my purpose on this earth and build meaningful relationships, rather than chase society’s popular decision. In recognizing the reward of patience in chastity, I’ve been able to discern the difference between love and lust. I need to know if I can hold an intellectual conversation with someone, if our values are intertwined, and if we’re compatible before I make such a rash decision that could come with great responsibilities. I don’t want to be 21 struggling to provide for myself, sacrificing, or putting aside my dreams, to raise a child on my own. I also don’t want to go through the trauma of an abortion because I didn’t take the time to get to know the person engaged in copulation with. Hence, patience is a virtue that should be deliberated in modern day society since the consequences of not refraining from chastity are