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What are the Virtues?
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtues Abounding “Introduction”
I am thinking of using this book, Virtues Abounding, in a new class to explore the importance of each of us developing virtues for our economy, and overall society, to function at its best. That is, many of the critiques of capitalism are really stemming from character flaws in the people practicing capitalism and would still be there under any other system.
I have heard of virtues over the years but never really had them presented formally as they are in this book. Aesop’s Fables and fairy tales were about as clear of a presentation as I got of virtuous behavior.
During my chapter review of Dierdre McCloskey’s Bourgeois Equality, she laid out the 7 virtues. The four cardinal virtues are courage, prudence, justice and temperance. The three Christian, or theological, virtues are love, faith and hope.
She posited that Adam Smith was one of the last virtue ethicists before that school of ethics fell out of favor, which causes us today to misread Smith.
