The Theory and Practice of Virtue by Gilbert C. Meilaender

by Gilbert C. Meilaender

Many students of philosophical and theological ethics have recently experienced a renewed interest in what may be called an ethic of virtue. Such an ethic focuses less on the concept of duty--or doing--and more on being. Central to an ethic of virtue is a division of moral life that emphasizes character and character development or moral education. The Theory and Practice of Virtue presents a series of connected essays--drawing on the thoughts of such diverse figures as Josef Pieper, Plato Lawrence Kohlberg, and Martin Luther--which explore theories of virtue and the practical task of being virtuous. Meilaender follows his consideration of the conceptual difficulties of moral education with a discussion of the practical problems and dangers of attempting to teach virtue, and more generally, of the problems of observing an ethic which emphasizes virtue within a theology that emphasizes grace. Chapters devoted to particular virtues and vices--the vice of curiosity and the virtue of gratitude--explicitly illustrate the book's central thematic concerns.

Genres: Philosophy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Glenn Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me in my study of leadership virtues, and what a virtuous leader is. I am also on the quest to understand if there are common virtues that transcend culture.

Meilaender looks to thinkers like Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, Martin Luther and Josef Pieper. He explores some of the following concepts:

The primary task of morality should be exploration of the means by which we discipline the “fat relentless ego”

If action flows from vision and vision depends on character, then religious beliefs will inevitably be of great importance in the shaping of ethic

Cannot ignore the theological challenge which suggests that only right “being” can possibly lead to right “doing”

Aristotle – moral activity is a kind of doing rather than making. When we shape and mold character we are not creating an artifact which is fixed forever

Philippa Foot notes that, while skills are only capacities, virtues actually engage the will

Josef Pieper states that virtue doesn’t merely point to a set of desirable character traits, but involves a quest for perfection. Rather than compartmentalize human character, it is the goal of transformation of self. Also, that the virtue of prudence must precede other virtues

Socrates doubts that virtue, moral excellence can be taught. If true, and we are not born virtuous, how do we attain moral excellence?

Plato believes that virtues are not many but one and that a person who truly knows what is good will certainly do it. However, this ignores that someone can be courageous but also unjust at the same time. Plato’s conflict is that he believes virtues are not naturally acquired, taught or learned by practice. “If Plato is correct, if we cannot insert vision into the blind and if our environment shapes our perceptions and judgments of goodness, one who vision of the good is not properly shaped in childhood may never come to see – except perhaps by ‘divine dispensation’”

Martin Luther – tension of whether human virtues consists in the gradual development and mastery of character traits that are good, or whether our virtue is simply that a forgiving God dwells with us even in our sinful condition

This book requires a lot of thought and reflection. Meilaender tackles some wonderful questions in regards to virtues, how they exist, why they exist, and how are they learned. He seeks to transition our thinking from theory to practice. Not always easy to do, but important.

[Tanner Whetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profound book that provides answers to questions many have perhaps wondered about their entire lives but lacked not the ambition but the very language to ask. Meilaender boldly reframes virtue with concise and helpful prose in this unapologetically theological endeavor inviting into discussion the influential voices of Josef Pieper, Aquinas, Luther, Kierkegaard, and others to cast light on the meaning of virtue and life itself.

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Intro to Part Three, as one of Schall's Unlikely List of Books to Keep Sane By---Selected for Those to Whom Making Sense Is a Prior Consideration, but a Minority Opinion.