User:Gracie Aldridge

Hey, Hi, Hello. My name is Gracie Elaine Aldridge. I'm currently a third year college student, and this is my first semester at UNCA. I'm majoring in Sociology and minoring in Psychology in order to go into social work and/or youth counseling of some sort. I'm also considering adding a Teaching Licensure for Special Needs Education or Early Childhood. I live off campus with my long term boyfriend (Aaron), our Cats (Domino and Coffee Cake), and our fish (Fredrick). I'm currently way out of shape, but typically enjoy hiking, camping, and kayaking. I also love reading and more importantly music (I sing). That's about all I have to say. Also #BLM.

= Confucius and the Analects = Summary/Background

Virtue
When I personally think of the idea of having Virtue, I think of how I treat others and take care of myself as well. I think of how I and others carry and present ourselves to the rest of the world. How people care for other people and ideals. I see it as a way to strive for quality in every relationship. I also believe Virtues, i.e. Ethics and Morals, are intangible things that everyone is born with, to an extent at least, and these things are also capable to be nurtured and molded into something even stronger.

If you merely google search the definition of virtue, it will give you the following : "behavior showing high moral standards or moral excellence." When it comes to Confucian definition though, virtue is those things yes, but it's also the broader picture. Confucian virtue or as I've been calling it, Confucian Ethics, is made up of other virtues. 6 Specifically that I have been looking into, as follows:

Xi - Virtue of Learning
Definition: 1. knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study,

2. modification of a behavioral tendency by experience.

Xin - Virtue of Trustworthiness
Definition: 1. Worthy of Confidence (Dependable)

- Book 1, 4: "Everyday I examine my character in three respects: Am I disloyal in my design for others, am I untrustworthy in my dealings with friends, have I failed to practice what has been passed on to me?"

Zhi - Virtue of Wisdom
Definition: 1. ability to discern inner qualities and relationships (Insight, Good Judgement, Knowledge)

- one can distinguish between right and wrong.

Li - Virtue of Propriety
Definition: 1. the quality or state of being proper or suitable

2. conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech.

Yi - Virtue of Morality/ Righteousness
Definition: 1. acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin

2. morally right or justifiable.

- Book 1, 13: "When good faith is close to righteousness, ones words may be fulfilled."

Ren - Virtue of Benevolence
Definition: 1. Disposition to do good.

- Chinese: “humanity,” “humaneness,” “goodness,” “benevolence,” or “love”.

- In some understandings as a combination of all other virtues.

- Book 17, 5: "... And if one is kind, one is competent to command others."

- Book 19, 23: "... But our master's wall is several ren high, and if one does not find the gate in it so as to enter, one does not see the beauty of the ancestral temple."

Analects Quotations
Book 4, 25 - "Virtue is not solitary. It is bound to have neighbors."

Book 7, 3 - "The Master said: 'The failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to put into practice what I have learnt, hearing what is right and being unable to move towards it, being unable to change what is not good - these are my worries'."

Book 7, 6 - "The Master said: 'Set your heart on The Way, base yourself on virtue, rely on humaneness, and take your relaxation in the arts.'"

Book 12, 10 - "... Exalting virtue consists of making loyalty and good faith into one's main principles and moving towards rightness..."

Book 13, 22 - "... If one does not show constancy* in ones virtue, one will perhaps be visited by shame."

Book 14, 4 - "... Anyone who possesses virtue is bound to possess eloquence, but anyone who possesses eloquence does not necessarily possess virtue..."

Book 15, 4 - "You, rare are those who understand virtue."

Outside Readings
Epictetus

Euthyphro