[Vision2020] Values and Virtues

[Joe Campbell]

Dictionary's are poor resources for doing philosophy. They measure
usage, which is related to opinion. If you look up "free will" and
look up "determinism" in the dictionary, then by definition free will
is incompatible with determinism. That doesn't settle the problem of
free will and determinism. It merely reflects the views of the average
person on the topic. If that were the criteria of acceptance for
settling philosophical disputes, almost all of your religious views
would be defeated.

The dictionary definition below is actually incoherent. It defines
"virtue" as a "moral judgment" which is inconsistent with the examples
of virtues listed. Wisdom, courage, temperance, etc. are not
judgments. As I said, virtues are good habits as opposed to vices
which are bad habits. I don't need to look this up since I do this
kind of thing for a living.

Not sure how the discussion got switched from values to virtues. Maybe
it was me! In any event, I'm done discussing your pastor's political
agenda for the time being so you can go back to doing whatever you
were doing! You've already told me -- and Vision 2020 -- what a low
opinion you have of philosophy (I can post the link to the comment if
you'd like). So I know that you're not really trying to have a
philosophical conversation. When you're ready, let me know! I'm always
available.

On Fri, Dec 24, 2010 at 10:31 AM, Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com> wrote:
> As this conversation moves forward, some "common ground" seems useful.
>
> Virtue, as described in my handy Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopedia advises:
>
> ... in philosophy, a moral judgment of the good of human conduct.  The
> cardinal virtues, as presented by Plato, were wisdom, courage, temperance,
> and justice.  Called natural virtues as contrasted with the Christian
> theological virtues of faith, hope, and character.  The Platonic virtues are
> achieved through training and discipline; the Christian virtues are regarded
> as dispositions for good residing in man.  By the 14th century, the two were
> combined and named the seven cardinal virtues.  They are found, with the
> opposing seven deadly sins in such medieval literature as Dante's Divine
> Comedy.
>
> The seven deadly sins are usually described as: pride, covetousness, lust,
> anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.
>
> On to "values".  Webster's New World keeps it simple:
>
> Values are the social principles, goals, or standards held or accepted by an
> individual, class, society, etc.
>
> The "Values.Com" site states this about their project:
>
> The Foundation does not have a political or religious agenda. Our values are
> selected with the hope that most individuals would find these values
> universal, encouraging, and inspiring. The Foundation acknowledges that each
> person has a unique lens through which he or she views the world. Naturally
> there are religious, nonreligious, political, and cultural views that give
> meaning to our lives. Our objective is to provide a wide spectrum of values
> without any intended agenda or slant and provide an uplifting message around
> each one.
>
> Seems rather clear to me.
>
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