Virtue in the Time of a Pandemic

I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent-no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you. - Seneca

     This Blog Spot began as an exploration of how Aristotle’s twelve virtues apply to the practice of law. In point of fact, however, Aristotle’s virtues were meant as a guide for leading a “good life.” Aristotle’s touchstone for what constitutes a “good life” was the ancient Greek notion of “eudaimonia”, which is often translated as “happiness” or “flourishing.” Eudaimonia is derived from the Greek words for ‘good’ (eu) and ‘spirit’ (daimon). So for Aristotle leading a ‘good life’ involves developing a ‘good soul.’

     Aristotle’s “good life” is achieved by living virtuously. That is, the ‘good souls’ are those whose lives are guided by virtues such as “courage” (doing what is right under difficult circumstances), “temperance” (throttling emotions by showing restraint and self-control), “liberality” (being charitable and generous, i.e. being kind), etc.  Of his twelve virtues these three are especially relevant during a pandemic. Why?

     In our humdrum everyday lives we are not often compelled by circumstances to exhibit courage, self-restraint, generosity and charity. On a typical day most of us might not have the opportunity to practice these virtues. The great Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote:

     “Misfortune has a way of choosing some unprecedented means or other of impressing its power on those who might be said to have forgotten it….Since it is unfamiliarity that makes a thing more formidable than it really is, this habit of continual reflection [on the travails that will befall us] will ensure that no form of adversity finds you a [completely unprepared]. “

Indeed, recognizing this the Stoic philosophers would intentionally put themselves in challenging situations to prepare themselves for the “hard times” they knew life would inevitably and unexpectedly present. In this way they could practice virtuous behavior in the “good times” to be able to live by them during the “hard times.”

     The Stoic philosophers also recognized, however, that even without mental training for life’s unexpected events, we could still use the “hard times” to burnish our virtues. As the philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said: “Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it-turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself-so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goals.” So to what good can we put our experience of the Covid 19 pandemic? What lifelong goals can this unprecedented experience help us achieve? Can we use this unique challenge to make us and our community better, more virtuous? Aristotle would say ‘yes.’

      Aristotle famously said “man is a political animal.” He did not mean by this that we should actively participate in politics. Rather, he believed that humans could only flourish, i.e. achieve “eudemonia”, as part of a close knit community that agreed on certain rules and customs, or as the Greeks termed it a “polis.” You can think of the modern “polis” as a series of concentric circles consisting of family at the center, then friends and neighbors, our work environment, and the community in which we live.  Importantly, it is only as a member of a polis that we can act virtuously and achieve being "good souls." With this view in mind we can see that finding it within ourselves to show self-restraint, act courageously and charitably has the potential to make us “good souls” while also enabling those in our “polis” to flourish. Thus, living in the time of a pandemic has given us the opportunity to practice our virtues, to be better members of our polis, and to become "good souls."
It is up to each of use to take advantage of this rare opportunity to be challenged, to become better, and to bring us ever closer to achieving the "good life."

        

Painting, Edward Hopper, Morning Sun