Can virtue be taught? The question has incessantly remained and, yet, has not been straightforwardly answered. In 1509, a transcript was written and centered on the dialog of a respectable philosopher, Socrates, and a student, Meno, of the prominent sophist, Gorgias. Through this 105-page discussion, Socrates and Meno are assumed to be tentatively discussing what virtue is, and if it can be taught. Though the duo inquire and answer several additional questions, by the end of the book, all we truly learned was that Meno’s favorite word was, certainly, and that Socrates liked indulging in long explanations that didn’t truly explain anything – and he wouldn’t shut up. And, by the end, our foremost question is still waiting to be addressed.
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Defining virtue is often mistakenly considered as incomprehensible to many, but only due to a lack of adequate understanding. How should we understand what virtue is to be? By common dictionaries, virtue is widely defined as a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally excellent, and Merriam Webster explains virtue as the just behavior or character of someone, or the conformity to a standard of upright qualities. But, as Christians, we are to live by the Word of God and conform to its law and guidance. In this way, we must inquire what virtue is according to the Bible, which is the display of commendable qualities and esteems exhibited in righteousness. Specifically, Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, and whatever things are of noble report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things” Virtue for us, then, is the discernment and conformity to commendable qualities, such as honesty, nobility, purity and humbleness, which are to be displayed in a praiseworthy manner to Christ and on which our lives should …show more content…
But, the education of virtue, specifically, whether or not it can be taught and then how it can be taught, is all absolutely pointless without a purpose. In this day and age, as a nation, society and as individuals alike, we have developed anything but virtuous admiralties. The endeavors we practice, and the methods we use to fashion our lives, generate deception, recklessness, brokenness, blindness and malevolence. Virtues are praiseworthy qualities and respects that form our frame of mind, our behavior, and our conduct, according to the injunctions of our faith. So, how is acceptance and at the same time, support of homosexuality pure or commendable? How is covetousness and idolization honorable or noble? Or even simper, how are gossip and slander an example of honesty or righteousness? In our lives, we are called to demonstrate and reverberate the virtuous qualities of Christ and to build our lives upon them in order to exhibit Christ through displaying our faith and living our conviction.
Christ has given and demonstrated these qualities for us to follow and practice. And, he tells us in 1 Peter 2:21 that we … “have been called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example to set and follow in truth.” In the gospels, Jesus told his disciples that “if anyone wants to come after Him, we must deny ourselves and take up their cross’s daily and follow Him.” We are instructed
Defining virtue is often mistakenly considered as incomprehensible to many, but only due to a lack of adequate understanding. How should we understand what virtue is to be? By common dictionaries, virtue is widely defined as a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally excellent, and Merriam Webster explains virtue as the just behavior or character of someone, or the conformity to a standard of upright qualities. But, as Christians, we are to live by the Word of God and conform to its law and guidance. In this way, we must inquire what virtue is according to the Bible, which is the display of commendable qualities and esteems exhibited in righteousness. Specifically, Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, and whatever things are of noble report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things” Virtue for us, then, is the discernment and conformity to commendable qualities, such as honesty, nobility, purity and humbleness, which are to be displayed in a praiseworthy manner to Christ and on which our lives should …show more content…
But, the education of virtue, specifically, whether or not it can be taught and then how it can be taught, is all absolutely pointless without a purpose. In this day and age, as a nation, society and as individuals alike, we have developed anything but virtuous admiralties. The endeavors we practice, and the methods we use to fashion our lives, generate deception, recklessness, brokenness, blindness and malevolence. Virtues are praiseworthy qualities and respects that form our frame of mind, our behavior, and our conduct, according to the injunctions of our faith. So, how is acceptance and at the same time, support of homosexuality pure or commendable? How is covetousness and idolization honorable or noble? Or even simper, how are gossip and slander an example of honesty or righteousness? In our lives, we are called to demonstrate and reverberate the virtuous qualities of Christ and to build our lives upon them in order to exhibit Christ through displaying our faith and living our conviction.
Christ has given and demonstrated these qualities for us to follow and practice. And, he tells us in 1 Peter 2:21 that we … “have been called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example to set and follow in truth.” In the gospels, Jesus told his disciples that “if anyone wants to come after Him, we must deny ourselves and take up their cross’s daily and follow Him.” We are instructed