Defining Values and Virtues, and How We Need to Be Virtues-Centered

We have become values-centered in our actions and policies, and it is tearing us apart. Values are personal or based on an outcome important to an individual. Virtues are behaviors focused on taking action for a societal benefit, not a personal one. We need to shift to virtues in how we live and lead.

How can one begin to define values and virtues, especially when things get complicated in the definitions? It’s challenging, and maybe academics make it too complicated. An unfair statement, perhaps. After all, philosophers like Aristotle and Confucius wrestled with ethical concepts, setting centuries of debates and discussions in motion.

What I know springs from growing up on a farm near a small town. We were steeped in Christian values, Midwest values, small-town values, and family values. Values became a common language that we just accepted. We felt safe in our similar space. Little diversity existed, other than farm kids versus city kids. City may be a misnomer since our town had 500 people.

Fast forward 40 years, and within this time, my experiences include time in politics, government, and business. Today, my focus is on completing my doctorate, helping social entrepreneurs, and teaching a university class on leadership. The reason to mention my background is that our…