Psalm 23 is one of the most well known set of Bible verses — to quote verse 4 in its King James version, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort…
Tag: Culture
Virtues Abounding
Let’s Agree Society Should Esteem the Virtues
Part 2 of a Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 6 “The Christian Life of Virtue” In the last blog, we discussed the theological, or infused, virtues to complete St. Thomas Aquinas’s vision of developing the seven virtues: prudence, temperance, courage, justice, faith, hope, and love. I think a society where each…
Virtues Abounding
The Root of Moral Virtue: Faith, Hope and Love
Part 1 of a Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 6 “The Christian Life of Virtue” The preceding four chapters have covered each of the four cardinal virtues whose examination and analysis dates back to the time of Aristotle, also called the natural moral virtues: prudence, justice, courage, and temperance. In…
Virtues Abounding
Develop the Virtue of Courage to Positively Impact Your Life
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 4 “Fortitude (or Courage)” The virtue of courage may be one we think we know the meaning of, as we think of firefighters fighting flames or soldiers running into battle. And those are types of courage, but as a virtue there is a lot…
Virtues Abounding
Beyond Fairness: Why Cultivating the Virtue of Justice Is Essential for a Harmonious Society
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 3 “Justice” We move on to the second of the four cardinal virtues, justice. I found it challenging to understand the virtue of justice, in part because I already think I know the definition of justice but also because of the individualistic culture I…
Virtues Abounding
Why You Should Strive to be Prudent
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 2 “Prudence” Prudence is not a word we hear much today so saying it is a virtue likely does not communicate much. O’Keefe gives us St. Thomas of Aquinas’s definition as the “abiding inclination to decide well.” (p. 11) So that’s all clear now!…
Virtues Abounding
A Return to Striving for a Virtuous Life Solves Many of Society’s Ills
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtue Abounding Chapter 1 “The Virtuous Life” Last chapter introduced the idea of the seven virtues. The four cardinal virtues are courage, prudence, justice, and temperance, and the three theological virtues are faith, hope, and love. Now we turn to the question, what is a virtuous life?…
Virtues Abounding
What are the Virtues?
A Discussion of Mark O’Keefe’s Virtues Abounding “Introduction” I am reading Virtues Abounding to understand the importance of each of us developing virtues for our economy, and overall society, to function at its best. That is, many of the critiques of capitalism are really stemming from character flaws in the people practicing capitalism…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
The Economic Denialism Built into Climate Change
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 14 “Moral Climate” I find this chapter a fascinating explanation of the histrionics that surround the climate change topic. I don’t want to get into whether it is man-made or not, real or hoax, but I do want…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
The Deep, Dark Roots of Politics: Using Others to Help Ourselves
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 13 “The Chimpanzee in the Room: Darwinian Politics” In an earlier chapter, Foster has discussed the origins of the instinct to trade. While trading seems natural to people, the disconnected and abstract modern economic system today challenges our…