I suggest we first establish what, exactly, we are talking about when we use the term “virtue”. People do have some idea already of what they mean by “virtue,” unfortunately, it’ s not necessarily meaningful in the same way to the others involved in the discussion. In other words, the term may not carry the same meaning to all of those engaged in the debate. So, lets take the time to set some ground rules, including what we mean by "virtue".
Websters: vir·tue (vûrÆchÁ), n.
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
3. chastity; virginity: to lose one's virtue.
4. a particular moral excellence. Cf. cardinal virtues, natural virtue, theological virtue.
5. a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses.
6. effective force; power or potency: a charm with the virtue of removing warts.
7. virtues, an order of angels. Cf. angel (def. 1).
8. manly excellence; valor.
9. by or in virtue of, by reason of; because of: to act by virtue of one's legitimate authority.
10. make a virtue of necessity, to make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation.
[1175–1225; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertu < AF, OF < L virt%t- (s. of virt%s) maleness, worth, virtue, equiv. to vir man (see VIRILE) + -t%t- abstract n. suffix]
—virÆtue·less, adj.
—virÆtue·less·ness, n.
—Syn. 1. See good
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I think these cover all my bases:
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
4. a particular moral excellence. Cf. cardinal virtues, natural virtue, theological virtue.
5. a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses.
I also think that given the entymological history of virtus, only men can be virtuous 😛. Sorry ladies, back to the stove!
Originally posted by Alliance
Websters: vir·tue (vûrÆchÁ), n.
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
3. chastity; virginity: to lose one's virtue.
4. a particular moral excellence. Cf. cardinal virtues, natural virtue, theological virtue.
5. a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses.
6. effective force; power or potency: a charm with the virtue of removing warts.
7. virtues, an order of angels. Cf. angel (def. 1).
8. manly excellence; valor.
9. by or in virtue of, by reason of; because of: to act by virtue of one's legitimate authority.
10. make a virtue of necessity, to make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation.
[1175–1225; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertu < AF, OF < L virt%t- (s. of virt%s) maleness, worth, virtue, equiv. to vir man (see VIRILE) + -t%t- abstract n. suffix]
—virÆtue·less, adj.
—virÆtue·less·ness, n.
—Syn. 1. See good- - - - - - -
I think these cover all my bases:
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
4. a particular moral excellence. Cf. cardinal virtues, natural virtue, theological virtue.
5. a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses.I also think that given the entymological history of virtus, only men can be virtuous 😛. Sorry ladies, back to the stove!
I concur
😆 Except for the last one. Storm, he's all yours...