Justice | Part IV: Virtue
Virtues are the qualities of character on which a just society depends¹.
They are the characteristics that society honours, that we admire and that we give praise to their possessors.
A just society is the result of the repeated practise of virtue by its citizens.
Virtue is not an act, but a habit¹.
For the character of society is shaped by the character of its citizens, and the character of citizens is shaped by the character of society.
We must begin by understanding what it is to be virtuous before we can put it into practise.
Justice
All virtue is in justice comprehended¹.
To define justice is to define virtue.
For although someone may perform an extraordinary act, it is the end for which it is done that determines whether it is deemed worthy of praise or denunciation.
To use power to fight for the supremacy of a race is not a quality to be admired; to sacrifice the lives of others for the fulfilment of prophecy is not something to be condoned; to use our capabilities to merely make material wealth for oneself is not a quality that we should seek to replicate.
It is only great thought that gives greatness to action².
To use power to empower people of every colour or creed is a quality to be admired; to sacrifice your comfort for the freedom of others is something to be commended; to use our capabilities to support those who have not been given the same opportunities we have had is what will enable justice to prevail.
We must therefore view virtue through the lense of justice.
For virtues are the qualities of character that we each practise that contribute to the pursuit of justice.
Current
Implicit
Whether we like it or not, or are aware of it or not, society implicitly defines virtue through the institutions it builds, the culture it cultivates, and the people it venerates.
When we are at school, we are taught what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. What we see on TV, in the news, and on social media, is a signal of the qualities society venerates.
The danger of our time is in believing that the relevance of virtue ended in the hills of Ancient Greece. To believe that is so, is to put the destiny of society in the hands of chance — a fate which sways towards power.
This can lead to what Aristotle described as a dangerous form of society — where everyone lives as one likes — just doing what they feel is right at the time¹— for any end they chance to desire³.
To live in such a way may seem like the epitome of liberty, but it is really slavery to the values we did not create. This is the source of the pyrrhic individualism of our age.
At its foundation are a number of assumptions.
It is to assume that the preferences we have for how we would like to live are developed entirely of our own volition; when it is our social circumstance that contributes to creating such a desire.
It is to believe that society has developed agnostically, or even with our best interests at heart, when entire industries are seeking to sway our attention in their direction for their benefit.
It is to deify ourselves, as though our freedom is worth more than that of any other person, when our action or inaction may inhibit others’ freedoms that we believe we have a right to exercise.
It is to accept that the ends we seek individually are greater than anything we can accomplish together.
It is to suggest that whether we choose to support the most disadvantaged in society, to maximise our wealth purely for our personal financial gain, or merely to wallow away our time — that these are pursuits of equal worth. That virtue is in the ability to choose, and not by the pursuit that is chosen. This is to place virtue as the means with ostensible liberty as the end.
In the same way, we are so often driven to venerate wealthy in itself. Yet, it should not be wealth in itself that we venerate, but the way in which it is gained and the ends for which it is used.
Unjust
Our society glorifies flaws of character⁴.
Our culture gives fame to those who cause outrage and makes celebrities of those whose ideas we should shame. We are told that success is defined by the content of our wallet and not the content of our character⁵.
Our economy ties our aspirations to material things and not what gives our lives meaning. We are led to believe that everything that we could want is available to us, only that we cannot afford it.
Our politics gives power to those who see authority as an end in itself. We are shown that in order to succeed we must forego the principles that we hold dear.
What we see around us is a world created on a foundation of iniquity. Where the idea of virtue has become devoid of direction and rightful meaning.
Rightful
Principle
A just society relies on each of us to do what is right.
Because just as such a society provides us with the rights to realise our capabilities, it is our responsibility to uphold them — for ourselves and others.
In a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to become what they are capable of becoming, practising virtue not only enables others to fulfil their capabilities, but for us to fulfil our own capabilities.
But what are the qualities of character that would make such a society a reality?
I do not pretend that we will reach consensus, or that any endeavour to comprise such a list will be comprehensive enough to consider all possibilities. But I do believe that there are certain qualities that most of us can agree are worthy of pursuit and that we would want to uphold:
To have compassion — for those who may not have the same opportunities we have been given⁶,
To be courageous — by standing up for what is right in the face of adversity and opponents,
To seek wisdom — for knowledge to be an end in itself⁷,
To be patient — understanding that if any great endeavour were easy it would already have been accomplished⁸,
To be principled — having strong values that show the way⁹,
To be honest — by speaking the truth when it may be risky or hard,
To be modest — not to proclaim achievement, but to be proud of accomplishments nonetheless,
To be generous — by giving what you can,
To be open — to new ideas, new people, and new opportunities,
To be friendly — being welcoming to one and all,
To be witty — bringing joy where there is pain, hope where there is hurt, and fun where there is idleness,
To be ambitious — not for personal gain, but for the impact you can make¹.
Are these not all qualities that we aspire to exhibit and we would wish others to do the same?
For virtue requires us not to be something we do not want, but what we would wish to be.
But how would each of these qualities help to create the just society we want to see?
If we have compassion, we would understand why people hold different opinions, help those who have not had the same opportunities we have been given, and see that everybody is of equal worth whoever they are.
If we are courageous, we would stand up for what is right in the face of opponents and overcome the adversity that may stand in our way.
If we seek wisdom, we would explore our intellectual potential, the world as it is and gain the knowledge to change it.
If we are patient, we would have the mental fortitude to do what is worthwhile even if it is not easy and will take time.
If we are principled, we would not be swayed by temptations which lure us along the way,
If we are honest, we would trust each other to tell us what is true even if it may be hard to hear or uncomfortable to know,
If we are modest, it would not be the people with the loudest voices who we would hear, but the greatest achievements that we would celebrate.
If we are generous, we would each give what we can to support those most in need,
If we are open, we would discover so many new ideas, meet even more amazing people, and find incredible opportunities for ourselves and others.
If we are friendly, we would each feel welcome wherever we may be,
If we are witty, we would bring each other joy where we can and help each other overcome whatever we may go through.
If we are ambitious, we would seek to have the biggest positive impact that we can on the world.
Practise
We are what we repeatedly do¹.
The way we act and the decisions we take as individuals, consumers, and citizens define our character and that of society.
It is through our culture, economy and politics that the character of society is thus shaped.
To put such principles into practise we must begin with ourselves.
To do so we must understand that all virtues are a balance between two vices¹.
Compassion lies between insensitivity and naivety,
Courage between cowardice and recklessness,
Wisdom between foolishness and bookishness,
Patience between spiritlessness and irritability,
Principled between corrupt and moralistic,
Modesty between shamelessness and shyness,
Generosity between greedy and obligatory,
Openness between intolerance and vulnerability,
Friendly between hostile and affectionate,
Wittiness between boorishness and buffoonery,
Ambitious between apathy and envy¹.
Each situation will determine what act virtue requires. Although not everyone will judge this correctly in every circumstance, with a fixity of purpose, and a lifetime to learn, virtue will be the ultimate result.
For the cultivation of virtue is a lifelong pursuit⁷.
What is virtuous may initially be painful, but it is through habit that it becomes pleasurable, and makes life all the more worthwhile¹.
When you begin to wake up early, it may be tiring; when you start to exercise in the morning, it may be exhausting; when you turn to a book rather than TV, it may be tedious; when you pursue your passion, it may prove painful; when you try to understand instead of argue, it may be arduous; when you begin to do what you believe to be right, it might be uncomfortable.
But, like with any great endeavour, what makes it hard is what makes it all the more fulfilling.
When you wake up early, you will have more life to live; when you exercise regularly, you will feel better throughout every day; when you read a book, you will learn lessons to lead your life; when you pursue your passion, you will find what makes life worth living for; when you understand, you will discover how fascinating people are; when you do what is right, you will have a conscience that is clear.
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall¹⁰.
It is from our acts that we determine who we are and the society we help shape.
That is why to act with virtue is the contribution that we can each make to the creation of a just society, as well as enabling each of us to lead a fulfilling life.
For virtues are the qualities of character on which a just society and a good life depends.
Inspired by
¹ Aristotle
² Friedrich Nietzsche
³ Epicurus
⁴ Alain de Botton
⁵ Martin Luther King Jr.
⁶ John Rawls
⁷ Confucius
⁸ John F. Kennedy
⁹ Lao Tzu
¹⁰ William Shakespeare
This is part of a series of 10 pieces exploring how we can create a just world.
- Part I
- Part II: Human
- Part III: Freedom
- Part IV: Virtue
- Part V: Love
- Part VI: Economy (to be published)
- Part VII: Politics (to be published)
- Part VIII: Culture (to be published)
- Part IX: Life (to be published)
- Part X: World (to be published)
