Great article. I tried to think of other anti-viritues but they seemed to be related to pride or anger. Such as fighting for one's "honor" or "reputation" or creating division over a minor technicalities and calling it a "matter of principle" (no, you're just looking for an excuse to be angry).
I might suggest that family loyalty is an anti-virtue, as it may protect dangerous individuals or tolerate intolerable behavior. In some cultures, the pull of family is stronger than nationality.
Perhaps conformity is also an anti-virtue - doing what everyone else is doing for fear of being judged, condemned, or laughed at.
Any kind of outsourcing of ethics and boasting of a perceived good result would fit the description of anti-virtue. And things like . . .
> fighting for one's "honor" or "reputation" or creating division over a minor technicalities and calling it a "matter of principle" (no, you're just looking for an excuse to be angry).
. . . are about maintaining status and asserting some preferred social order above genuine humanity. The closing of ranks within families or tribes that you described likely fits this, too.
Excellent examples, thanks!
Agreed on the conformity being a problem. I almost went with another quote from my book in this article -- "Good neighbors consent. Good citizens conform." -- so you know where I stand on social conformity as a priority. As for fear, I would categorize knowingly acting out of fear to be a plain ol' vice, and something the person likely recognizes as a less than optimal way of making decisions.
I think anti-virtues are things that people genuinely think are virtues, because they can't see past the disguise.
Thought provoking
" Disobedience is the true foundation of Liberty." Henry David Thoreau
Good example of what I was trying to get across. I didn't know Thoreau said that, but it's insightful 💡
Thoreau was pretty good at that.,
Great article. I tried to think of other anti-viritues but they seemed to be related to pride or anger. Such as fighting for one's "honor" or "reputation" or creating division over a minor technicalities and calling it a "matter of principle" (no, you're just looking for an excuse to be angry).
I might suggest that family loyalty is an anti-virtue, as it may protect dangerous individuals or tolerate intolerable behavior. In some cultures, the pull of family is stronger than nationality.
Perhaps conformity is also an anti-virtue - doing what everyone else is doing for fear of being judged, condemned, or laughed at.
Any kind of outsourcing of ethics and boasting of a perceived good result would fit the description of anti-virtue. And things like . . .
> fighting for one's "honor" or "reputation" or creating division over a minor technicalities and calling it a "matter of principle" (no, you're just looking for an excuse to be angry).
. . . are about maintaining status and asserting some preferred social order above genuine humanity. The closing of ranks within families or tribes that you described likely fits this, too.
Excellent examples, thanks!
Agreed on the conformity being a problem. I almost went with another quote from my book in this article -- "Good neighbors consent. Good citizens conform." -- so you know where I stand on social conformity as a priority. As for fear, I would categorize knowingly acting out of fear to be a plain ol' vice, and something the person likely recognizes as a less than optimal way of making decisions.
I think anti-virtues are things that people genuinely think are virtues, because they can't see past the disguise.