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I like doing etymology researchs to know the real meaning of words, that can totally impact question's interpretations and answers. By reading most of socratics books, with exception of some extensive ones like "the republic" by Plato, most of dialogues goes into reflections about antithesis correspondences of some concept, attribute, adjective, and here am I scooping out of what can be abstract... Its very interesting that conclusions of many topics can be very redundant, there is a good polarity, a bad one, and a middle term, which can lead to positionings like neutrality or equilibrium of factors.
A bit out of topic, sometimes ponderations happens on question's weight, mainly in science, and many times statistics can be applyied, a normal distribution with sigma standard deviations from the average to avaliate lol, like even with characteristics e.g.
But so, I got into researching the etymology of "virtue", that is mentioned by many philosophers of different cultures. And the meaning given by the greeks was very interesting to me... 'll quote my understandment of it and anyone can feel free to correct if so...
Its the atainment of the highest moral standards, and by that it could be said of all subjects...
"A trait of excellence", "the good of humanity", "an end purpose of life" as quoted in wikipedia lol.
It sounds so much like nirvana from buddhism, isn't it? Or enlightment... By that many aspects could be approached, like ego or material...
Im not a moralist in the sense I don't like to judge, but I also don't like what is wrong/bad. Much of the debate goes exactly on this topic by Plato and Aristotle, like on what is to judge, that sometimes could also be read as fairness/righteousness. Because to condemn is the opposite of mercy if you think through it (or going into neutrality, impartiality).
Here we can also quote the figure of Jesus, that beyond all evil done to him was capable of all mercy and even responds with love, so you see, he doesn't judge, but by even giving any view on that is a judgment of concept by itself, preferably together with what seens right (in also my subjective view)... Its also said the divine justice will be done so any revenge isn't needed here, because you see, would it be just or not?
But still our worldly justice gotta work, a tough job for who "wields the sword", that also demands much equilibrium. While sometimes mercy/piety could be the fair thing to be done, of course these won't take weight from heinous acts, that should be severely punished. Brazilian laws are too soft on that e.g., and should walk together to build a moraly good society imo.
Confucius also used to say "before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves". The meaning is that this won't give anyone freedom of mind, but actually cause more turmoil, while mercy/forgiveness could release it.
I'm not saying we should take wrong doings lightly, but that piety and understandment of their immaturity is a higher moral spot, because these can only bring bad karma and torment... We living in a dystopic society, I pity them for that. I wonder how long someone pays for impulsive actions that takes seconds of decision, their mind is gone, lost, they might pay with their freedom, and who knows what else.
I'd say its 99,9% or a myriad of times more difficult to be virtuous. To be ready to not get offended by minor things and instantly give the other cheeck and desire them good its a start... And actually brings freedom because you keep nothing.
But so, what is the virtue's antithesis then? Its said to be vice! I got kinda surprised by that, but it makes sense. "Vice is a habitual, repeated practice of wrongdoing", and detriment of oneself, like with substance excess or compulsion. Others antithesis I could search would be like wickedness or malevolence. While virtuous is whose gets pleasure for doing what is right.
(No AI used to write it).
Whats your opinion on that?