No Need For Self-Control
How is it that the premodern valued mastery of the self, over and above control of nature (and may explain, at least in part, the lack of technological progress among the ancients — while their notions of duty and virtue are more relevant today than ever)? Why is it that the modern values mastery of nature as a servant to the self, over whom there need be no master: this assumes a standard. Subjective feeling is now king, the new ‘moral life’. Virtue and duty are in exile, unpleasant reminders of the old moral order.
As Peter Kreeft observed in Back to Virtue (p. 23):
We control nature but we cannot control our own control. We control nature, but we cannot or will not control ourselves. Self-control is “out” exactly when nature control is “in”, that is, exactly when self-control is most needed.
If we can conquer everything except ourselves, the result … (Read more)
The Honor of a Hero
Is it really such an honor to be called a hero within a society that watches the homeless die on public streets, while women are raped in public washrooms? Either a hero exemplifies the values of such a society — and then he is no hero — or is admired as he goes against them. And if the latter, then how pathetic are they who praise him — “hero”. How a hero is perverted, invigorating apathetic lives…… (Read more)
Virtue of Magnanimity
I have something of a confession to make: a lot of the time I feel inadequate. I feel inadequate in almost everything I do, especially in the things others tell me I’m (really) good at. When I do feel content with myself, the moment is fleeting. I’m content until I come across someone else who does something similar to what I do–except they do it better. Or at least that’s what I think. It doesn’t matter their age, their education or their background. It only matters that I see myself as insignificant compared to them and what they are doing, even if the reality is the opposite. I’ve had feelings of inadequacy to the point of almost believing that if others really knew how much I didn’t know (and I really don’t know a lot), they would shrug me off as puffed up, a charlatan or a fraud. I … (Read more)
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