What is Virtue in 2025?


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Virtue: it is an old-fashioned term but one that some of the greatest philosophers in history have wrestled with. In the Platonic dialogue, “Meno”, Meno asks Socrates, “can virtue be taught?” Socrates in his unique manner replied that he “…did not even have any knowledge of what virtue itself is.” So, from the earliest time, people have confronted virtue. The Stoics had an either/or view of virtue—you had it or you didn’t. Many philosophical schools viewed wisdom, courage, justice and temperance as four cardinal virtues. Virtue was a critical element in Confucianism so it plays a role in western and eastern philosophies. It could be argued that virtue has been subsumed into religion over the years and has come to be seen as religions adherence—wrongly I believe. Is virtue completely or partially separate from any belief in a supreme being--if a supreme being even exists?
How do you view and/or define virtue? Is it a term not useful in our time? Can it be taught? Is virtue synonymous with ethics? These are just some questions that come to mind. So many questions that can revolve around virtue!
In one of my favorite movies (and I cannot recommend it highly enough) “Second Hand Lions” one of the main characters played by Robert Duvall says “Honor, courage and virtue mean everything; money and power, power and money mean nothing.” I fervently hope that will turn out to be true but I am very worried that money may overpower virtue. Sorry to get a little political here, but I would argue that however one defines virtue, it is almost completely lacking in the current federal administration and the Ohio legislature along with courage, honor, wisdom and temperance. Do we need a return to some form of virtue to, we hope, steer our society in a positive, progressive direction? Sorry this prompt is a little vague, but I hope it prompts some good discussion, which given the quality of attendees, I'm sure it will.

What is Virtue in 2025?