Embodying virtue
For real
Category: virtue ethics
Epistemic status: opinion supported by quotes
Some people have expressed confusion about the term “embodying virtue”. When I speak of embodying virtue, I’m talking about training yourself to act, think, feel and judge1 in accordance with virtue. I’m talking about making virtue second nature, an ingrained pattern of being that will allow you to navigate life with ease and skill.
As such, embodying virtue is doing virtue, taking active steps to practice in your day-to-day life. As I wrote in On Virtue: “You can learn fancy greek words for days without coming an inch closer to virtue.”.
The reason I’m being very explicit about actually-for-real starting to do virtue is the rampant compartmentalization I see in some philosophical circles. An all-too-common pattern is having extensive knowledge of abstract concepts and perspectives, without putting any of the philosophical machinery to use. Life is hard. Philosophy is one way to navigate life. Turning philosophy into something akin to fantasy lore2 is a travesty. Sure it’s fun to talk with friends about abstract concepts, but the talk is not the point. Life is the point.
This is a point echoed by most of the old gang:
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” - Marcus
“Don’t talk about your philosophy, embody it” - Epictetus
”It consists not in words but actions” - Seneca
We’ll get to a mental model of value-judgements, don’t worry.
turning into fantasy lore= talking about the concepts like they are about imaginary things. Knowing how to repeat statements like “the map is not the territory”, but not having internalized the ramifications.