7 Sins and Virtues
I.School
Step 7
Objective: 7 Sins and Virtues
To identify 7 Sins
To identify 7 Virtues
Identify Aristotle’s Four Cardinal Virtues
Notes
Around 400 BCE, Plato and later Aristotle philosophized on human behaviors which helped shape western religious doctrines such as 7 sins and virtues, They can be named and memorized, easily enough, but why care? Why are they supposedly definitive? What makes a sin a deadly sin? A virtue a cardinal virtue
Procedure:
Recall. Prior to looking, see how many sins and virtues you can name.
Sins: Virtues:
Answer:
Seven Deadly sins- lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride;
Seven Cardinal virtues- chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility.
2. Compare with Aristotle’s Four Cardinal Virtues of: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Courage.
Define Cardinal as: “pertaining to a hinge;” or points to “north, south, east, west” https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cardinal
3. Self Reflect. Why or why not would you want to follow any path? Virtuous or not?
4. Ask: What does this have to do with I.School? (Indeed.)
Does your school practice fairness, justice, moderation, balance, kindness, strength of character? Or, imbalance, extremes, fear-based learning? Not what schools say, but what they Do?
5. *If needed- go back to 1,2,3. You are #1! You are learning in an organized structure (2), and remember A-F. Ah, breathe consciously, deliciously enjoying five senses. Breathe 3.
Observations:
Thats just it. Just reflect. Observe. I am not here to tell you what to do or how to live. The choice is yours. I simply wish to provide alternative considerations. With that being said, here are my notes, and my conclusions.
Interestingly, when I have asked classes (people in general) to name seven sins and virtues, most can name more sins than virtues. Try it. People can rattle off 3 or 4 sins- thanks to movies and pop culture, I think. Ask them to name virtues? One or two, max can be identified. Not that it really matters, and yet…when we focus more on sins than virtues. Our thoughts. Our thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habit.
Moreover, what do we think “deadly” is? And what is the opposite? ‘Lively”? To Live. To flourish.
Can we, as individuals flourish in a school that provides a less than optimal flourishing environment?
Hmmm, thats a dinger. So-
If I consider Four Cardinal Virtues as living the ‘good life’, a flourishing life,
And I would want that for myself as well as for students
and the ‘good life’ consists of 4 hinged points- Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Courage
*(and Cardinal is defined as a hinge. A baseline like North, South, East,West)
Therefore:
I am compelled to follow-
Prudence:
Prudence is gained primarily through living life. Only the keen observer of human nature, the person who has both experienced many things and reflected on these experiences, can develop the ability to judge what actions will and will not lead to happiness. Aristotle’s moral framework thus emphasizes the role of mentors in the ethical life. We must learn how to judge rightly from those who have experienced more than we have and who have gained insight over the course of their lives. Moral education, then, is key. Living virtuously is much easier for those who have been trained by the prudent, and so have been brought up to avoid making certain mistakes in life.
Justice:
Justice may require a simple reciprocity. If I buy a cup of coffee, I owe the seller the posted price. But it may be more complicated. For example, a wounded veteran may deserve more from the state than an average citizen, since he or she has sacrificed more. In any case, the just person desires to give nothing less than what is due. No one can be short-changed, swindled, or mistreated in any way.
Temperance:
The temperate person does not despise pleasure. Rather, this person subordinates his or her appetites to the greater human good—putting them in their proper place in human life. The temperate person enjoys good food and good wine, but partakes in only as much as the occasion demands. By being incorporated into the whole good life, these pleasures can be what they were meant to be for human beings, rather than undermining our flourishing.
Courage:
The courageous person regulates their emotions, disposing them so that they are willing to face dangers for the sake of what is right. Otherwise, fear or bravado could cloud the judgment of prudence, or overcome the desire of justice to act rightly. For Aristotle, there are two ways not to be courageous: excessive timidity and excessive boldness, between which courage strikes a balance.
Courage in particular involves bravery in the face of death, because death is the greatest sensible evil. The courageous is not one who is free from fear, but one who moderates fear lest it compromise good will. The brave is dauntless: she faces things as she ought to for honor’s sake. Calm beforehand, she is keen in the moment of action. The rash one is anything but calm. The rash are often young, inexperienced, impulsive, and prone to anger. Often the rash hothead wishes for dangers beforehand, but actually shrinks from them in the moment. Thus, rashness is sometimes a mask for the opposite flaw: cowardice. The coward lets fear keep her from doing what is right.
“Courage is a virtue precisely because one acts resolutely despite one’s justified fears. That is, course is not the lack of fear, but its mastery.” www.fontiersin.org May3, 2021.
Ok. I hear ya. I’m working on it. Very busy, indeed.
In a Nut Shell:
Prudence is wisdom. Learning from mistakes.
Justice is recognizing what is fair.
Temperance is moderation.
Courage is pursuing virtue no matter what it takes. Facing fear of the light?
Conclusions:
As I am human, all too human, my first thought is usually not patience, for example. It’s wrath. Heart pounding “why, you @#$%! Cut me off in traffic…” That is my initial response. As a student/teacher in I.School, I see the virtue in allowing a second thought to slither in. (Slither?) Temper my temper- meant. Why? It feels better. In the long run. It feels better.
Sloth? Yep. Especially with standardized lessons. But slow diligent fortitude, like writing for I.School? It feels good, albeit painful and challenging.
Gluttony? Yum. Freedom from food obsession? Exquisite!
Envy. I’m enough. More than enough. I AM a full time job. Practicing self-kindness is a big commitment. I am very, very busy!
That goes for greed too. I have enough. More than enough. I could do with less, in fact.
Chastity does not need to be belts and abstinence. How about mutual permission minus manipulation? Age appropriate concession notwithstanding acquiescence. (I don’t know if that makes sense but it sounds fun).
Humility. I’m proud of my commitment to my craft, of teaching, but what was more rewarding is that I learned -over time- was the I was in the presence of greatness. Students. Your talents, intelligence, humor, honesty, stated and understated beauty. You humbled me. I am always honored in the presence of students.
Suggested Readings
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-admirable-virtues.html
https://www.thecollector.com/aristotle-four-cardinal-virtues/
Cardinal: chief, pivotal," early 14c., from Latin cardinalis "principal, chief, essential," a figurative use, literally "pertaining to a hinge," from cardo (genitive cardinis) "that on which something turns or depends; pole of the sky,
The cardinal points (1540s) are north, south, east, west. The cardinal sins (c. 1600) are too well known to require rehearsal. The cardinal virtues (c. 1300) were divided into natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and theological (faith, hope, charity). The natural ones were the original classical ones, which were amended by Christians. But typically in Middle English only the first four were counted as the cardinal virtues:
Of þe uour uirtues cardinales spekeþ moche þe yealde philosofes. ["Ayenbite of Inwyt," c. 1340]
By analogy of this, and cardinal winds (late 14c.), cardinal signs (four zodiacal signs marking the equinoxes and the solstices, late 14c.), etc., the adjective in Middle English acquired an association with the number four. Online Etymology Dictionary.
Other Suggested Readings:
I suggest you don’t. Put the books and articles down. Look around. Feel. Virtue silently. Don’t explain it. Virtue feels odd because we are not used to it, not because it’s odd to feel. (Light?)