The enduring power of virtue

As moral standards decline the world over there is a disdain for ethics. This is manifested in widespread corruption, violence and lawlessness. The desire to succeed, compete and be the best may well be programmed in our genes. It is perhaps necessary for survival. 

Worldly success is usually associated with recognition, wealth and power. Recognition is an affirmation of the skill, appreciation, sacrifice, and talent displayed by the person,  group, or institution. When a society fails to make a fair judgement of recognition the faith in excellence is eroded. This is probably the point where the rot begins. 

Wealth can be something a person is born into, earned through honest enterprise, or made by unethical means. Reducing all wealth to the size of a number muddies the distinction between ethical and unethical means. The belief that means don’t matter takes root and has serious consequences for society. 

Power is a double edged weapon. Even sages who gain it through harsh sacrifices pay a price for misusing it. For the ordinary mortal the line between the use and misuse of power is always difficult to draw. 

In this atmosphere dominated by cynicism it is easy to miss the calming effect of virtue. Even as morality and ethics change with time and across societies, the concepts they are derived from remain. Truth, justice, wisdom and moderation are valid at all times. Truth and justice create a fair-minded society. They build integrity. Even as heroism makes a person push beyond barriers, wisdom tells us when to pull back. It is perhaps the most important of virtues. Moderation checks anger, hate and the desire for revenge. It checks both fear and favour. 

Virtue builds a society where recognition, wealth, and power can be enjoyed honourably. The individual who lives a virtuous life transcends the desire for recognition, wealth and power. The individual becomes endowed to handle all that there is with equanimity. Such perfect virtuosity may not be common. More frequently, individuals may have ignored aspects of virtue while pursuing recognition, wealth and power. There are no limits to these worldly goals. As Elon Musk’s actions tell us even the world’s richest man would want more. But there is a point, usually towards the end of a person’s life, where there is a recognition of the limits of what the world has to offer. At that point the mind moves back to truth, justice, wisdom and moderation. Virtue has the last word.