Virtue The Gateway to the Human Conscience
Sharad Sood English 1302 T-TH 12:30 PM 16 April 2002 Virtue: The Gateway to the Human Conscience What is the human conscience? ... According to the Oxford English Dictionary, conscience refers to “the internal acknowledgement or recognition of the moral quality of ones motives and actions; the sense of right and wrong as regards things for which one is responsible; approving the right and condemning the wrong”(OED). The human conscience is a unique concept that is explored and analyzed by many individuals, philosophers, and authors of our world. Aristotle, Adler, Robert Bolt, Christopher Browning, Margaret Atwood, Eva Fogelman, and Mike Jacobs are prime examples of individuals who delve deep into the world of the human conscience and its pretense. The term ‘virtue’ refers to “conformity of life and conduct with the principles of morality; abstention on moral grounds from any form of wrong-doing or vice” (OED). Efficient use of the human conscience equates to optimum levels of virtue. Also, luck plays an extraordinary function in the maturity of virtue. ... In much of society, whether present, past, or future, three types of individuals exist: virtuous individuals with good and bad luck--people of sound conscience that will act responsibly and dutifully even if death is imminent, and non-virtuous individuals. A sound conscience is ascertained through the possession of high levels of virtue. ... According to author and philosopher Aristotle, experience is the key in attaining the highest forms of virtue. ... Adler, another philosopher of virtue, believes that luck is a significant element in the establishment of virtue. “The lives of persons having moral virtue can be blemished and, even in extreme cases, ruined by the adversities of outrageous fortune” (Adler 16). Adler further believes that a stout moral character strengthens the scope of virtue. “Having the habit of right desire, which is moral virtue, must be present as a necessary condition for human beings to act righteously… (Adler 11). ... According to Aristotle, individuals who lack control over their passions lack virtue. ... More practices virtue in his daily dealings in life. ... More, an individual of sound conscience, acts dutifully even while staring death right in the eye. ... Instead, her sound conscience prevailed, and allowed her to do the virtuous thing (in her mind), the dutiful thing, kill herself. ... Once again, “The lives of persons having moral virtue can be blemished and, even in extreme cases, ruined by the adversities of outrageous fortune” (Adler 16). ... Jacobs experienced many confrontations with the power of the human conscience during his time as a prisoner of the Holocaust. ... This explains why he is a person of virtue with bad luck. ... These people lack virtue, hence, lack a strong conscience. ... Rich lets his greedy passions surpass his rationality and sense of realistic virtue. Aristotle seems to assert the principle that the inexperienced let their desires take over their reason and sense of morality or virtue. ... Rich has no sense of virtue, no sense of right and wrong. ... According to Adler, Rich is deficient in the possession of good moral character, thusly lacking a sound virtue and conscience. ... Gnade possessed not even the slightest iota of ‘statescraft’ or conscience and actually derived pleasure out of killing innocent men, women, and children.