In this article, our attention will be directed to the practical benefits of virtue. Meditating on virtue can help you act accordingly to it.
Virtue ethics is all about improving your character and mindset. It was also one of the key focuses of the ancient Stoic philosophers, who made a list of their four cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice.
There are certainly many people who you admire because of their strong character, which is usually the result of a virtuous soul. We admire those people whose influence is built on a strong and persistent will, and those who are able to endure hard times without compromising their integrity. The Stoics also admired someone with these qualities, who was one of the most influential philosophers in history – Socrates. Socrates was often subject to the admiration of his fellow philosophers, not only because of his intellect, but because of his integrity, dignity and virtuosity. When he was on trial and imprisoned, Socrates famously chose death over escape because he believed carrying out his sentence was the virtuous thing to do. Hence, Socrates’ virtue had triumphed even in his death.
Recognize the Virtue Within Yourself
One might ask a philosophical question: “how do I know if I am virtuous?” Think of any good deed you have done. Did you do it because of a possible reward or to gloat or because you felt obligated to? Then your action was not virtuous. Or did you do it simply because it was the right thing to do? In that case, your action was virtuous.
For example, if you help another person only because you will be rewarded with material gain or or praised by others, then your deed is not virtuous because your intentions are not pure. On the other hand, if you help others because you simply feel the need to help them, then your intentions are pure and your actions are virtuous. A virtuous deed should be enough reward on its own. At the same time, being rewarded for a good deed does not necessarily make you unvirtuous. All that’s important is why you do it: to feel good about doing it and not for the reward.
Stoics knew that virtue exists all of within us, but that particular mental state needs to be nurtured. We are capable of reason, and thus we have the opportunity to reconcile our lives with virtue. In Stoic philosophy, a virtuous life is inseparably connected with reason as the center of our personhood. The first rule of Stoic virtue ethics is to be familiar with the boundaries of our control. We can’t control anything that is external to ourselves, and our mind can only extend itself so far.
We can only influence our mind and actions, and reminding ourselves of this can help us to have an objective view and to find a firmer position in the world. As we become aware of our own reactions and impressions, we can further learn to control them. It is in our power to choose how we react and what we consider important in this world. To be a truly virtuous person, you must first understand the limitations of your control.
Short Meditation – Practicing Virtue
It is not easy to break a habit and change your lifestyle. That is why small steps are very important. We face challenges on a daily basis; however, what is important is our attitude toward the challenge. As the Stoic philosopher Epictetus said:
“For every challenge, remember the resources you have within you to cope with it”
In Stoicism, virtue is considered more than a theory; it is a matter of practice. We have the opportunity to improve with every challenge we face and overcome. Only by facing these trials and acting with virtue can we achieve summum bonum – “the highest good” or the best version of ourselves.
Now, imagine a situation where you become frustrated or enraged. For example, your project was rejected after you spent a lot of energy and many hours on it. The expected feelings that would strike your mind are anger, uselessness, resentment, sadness and so on. In this situation, you can practice a virtuous mindset and take a more objective approach. Ask yourself why the project was rejected in the first place. Is there really a reason to react so strongly? What can you learn from this, or what can you do better next time? You can waste more time and energy on reacting adversely, or you can act virtuously and use reason to determine the next course of action.
In this case, courage and temperance can help you to learn something new, to improve yourself, and to better deal with future challenges. You are the only one who can influence your mindset. We can’t control what others are thinking or their actions , but we can control our thoughts and actions in order to face challenges. Our mindfulness is our closest ally and we can only grow as a person as long as we act virtuously.
