When I hear the word virtue admittedly I think to what I learned
in movies about protecting a woman’s virtue and that centers mostly around
chastity, which is in fact a virtue according to Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. Ben
Franklin created a program that has been used as a guide for living through
principles in order to be a person of good character. So what are virtues?
Aristotle holds that a virtuous person must do the appropriate action, do so
habitually, enjoy acting virtuously, know that it is virtuous, and know why it
is virtuous (LaFollette, 2007). Ben Franklin lists them as: temperance,
silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice,
moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. Of the thirteen
three stand out to me, I would like to debate one, industry, whereas two of the
virtues an immediate need in society, sincerity and justice.
Industry is defined by Franklin as “Lose no time. Be always
employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions” (n.d.). I could
end the argument by citing moderation and attributing needing to observe
industry in moderation and just be done with it. That would be a disservice to
the point this virtue instills, which is to live with purpose. Anytime the word
all, always, never are used it tends to paint you into a corner. This virtue
would be better served by removing all, though regardless of that edit I
suppose one could argue between what is necessary and unnecessary, which is why
I wish to debate this virtue. I work very hard to have a full-time job as an
academic advisor. I have 475 students and a very active student population. I
find purpose in helping others. During my free time I am pursuing a Master’s
degree. I am having a very hard time squeezing in regular exercise and have
been cutting corners to fit everything into a day. There are times when
industry is just something I am maxed out with and fully at capacity. For me
not to get sloppy with my work or miss a detail sometimes I need mindless
activities in order to feel renewed. If the renewal benefits becoming
productive and pursuing industry is it necessary? Personally the answer is one
hundred percent yes. All work, no play makes Jack a dull boy. If the Shining
has taught us nothing else it shows us that industry is an important virtue, to
a point.
Two virtues that would serve us well right now are sincerity and
justice. These virtues are needed in the micro, meaning that we need this on an
individual level so that it can impact us on a macro level by permeating into
our society. Sincerity is defined as, “Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently
and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly” (n.d.). As a millennial I grew
up watching Clueless and other wonderfully delicious 90’s movies and 90’s
things such as girl power and empowerment in general. I believe in standing up
for yourself and others. However, just because it is on your mind does not mean
it needs to be shared. Facebook, I am looking at you. Furthermore, just because
you can do it, doesn’t mean you should, this includes what we say. Tact is a
graceful skill that never goes out of style. There is a common perception about
rabbit breeding and how quickly rabbits can populate. If you consider it
thoughtfully, a lack of sincerity would be the virtue equivalent to that, it
spreads and repeats quickly. When we
speak ill of or to others or our actions are ill to others it can have
emotional implications on that person that shapes them which is shown through
actions and choices. If we stir emotions with a negative spoon we perpetuate
that same action in others. Innocents become tainted and a cycle begins. This
cannot become our norm. We have to take care of ourselves and others by
treating people better than with insincerity, falseness, hollowness, distrust,
or trickery.
Justice is another ticking time bomb that we must do better at
understanding and executing. “Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benefits that are your duty” (n.d.). If this idea is abused it becomes a
slippery slope. It depends on what another person’s definition is of what is
considered wrong. Some would say that anything they disliked is doing wrong.
That is not really what this means. The six pillars of character:
trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship and
the golden rule can be pulled into this definition by making a generalization
of treating others how you want to be treated. We are all in this world trying
to make the best of it and do what we can. Inside each of us is a fragile
being, a soul. Nothing in this world entitles us to turn away from our duty of
caring for each of us as a human being. Some of us do a better job of this than
others it doesn’t mean we should give up on needing justice as a virtue. It
just means we have to keep going.
Maybe industry and justice would be a good pairing. Lose no time
and employ yourself fervently in justice, in not wronging others, in not
hurting another, in being steadfast in our duties to others as we are all human
beings and when you do these things do them with sincerity. It may not be a flawless recipe but it is a good
start to working toward harmony.
References:
Ben's 13 Virtues. (n.d.). Retrieved
May 1, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/pop_virtues_list.html
LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden,
MA; Blackwell Publishing
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