Where Have All the Virtues Gone?

People from at least the time of Aristotle have believed that virtue is to be preferred over vice. Important principles for the good of all are essential to a society. Consequently, they have aimed for such things as happiness, love, trust, friendship (quality relationships with others), community, and peace as those virtues that are to be valued above all else. The interchange in society has been viewed as the venue by which these virtues have been sought and those things that do not bring about such a virtuous end (vices) are to be avoided. With these intended consequences or goals in mind a civil society has been maintained.

But what would happen if a different set of goals were pursued? What if wealth, power, contempt, individualism, and control at all ends became the intended goals of society? What would happen over time if these vices dominated and the virtues normally associated with a civil society were abandoned?

Certainly concern for communal virtues to triumph over individualistic vices is real in society today. Perhaps we can blame it on the diminishing middle class, which probably gains most from civility and the cultivation of virtue. But does our current loss of civility in society reflect the predominant culture of 2016? Or is it the result of the haves wanting more and the have nots being frustrated with not having enough, lead the have nots to perhaps look to the haves to help them?

Time will tell concerning how long incivility imperils the practice of virtue in America. Perhaps the election in the U.S.A. tomorrow may influence it. Regardless, in our society today we need to cultivate virtues that reflect the goals of a desire to live out our faith in a communal way. Christians cannot stand by the side and let incivility and personal concern for self dominate our public life. We need to speak up for care for all, peace, love, friendship, and the virtues of a common life. Christians will base our cultivation of virtues on the life of Jesus and the teaching of Paul. We will try to emulate the one who cared for all and died to save others. We will try to reflect such Pauline lists of virtues as Galatians 5:22: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." We will seek to live by the Holy Spirit.

If the incivility and self-direction of today is to be turned back, it will begin with reflecting on what is best not just for me, but for society as a whole. Christians can play an important role in that pursuit, as we not only think about, but seek "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, whatever is excellent, and whatever is worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8). The future of society may be hanging in the balance through our practice of virtue today.