Study Virtue Above All Things
By Michael Harris Johnson
As Corona Virus continues I have been reading more of the news and seeing that perhaps the earlier models might not have been as accurate as previously thought. Based off of this, I am in high hopes that perhaps this event will not be as severe as anticipated and our economy can reopen partially in the future as new data comes in. I am concerned for many Americans who cannot afford to be unemployed for another two months without work. Nevertheless, the warmer weather here in the Bay Area is always a good sign of healthier immune systems, fresh air, and overall a turn in spirits for those around me.
When it comes to political discourse, many people seem to be arguing over 'what is good?' In our current situation, the normative ethical question would be how ought we to act during the corona virus? Now taking a step backwards we are brought to the meta-ethical question on the nature of good. For Aristotle in Book 1 of Nichomachean Ethics, he appears to believe that acting good is a means rather than an end, it is in fact participating in activity of the soul in a virtuous manner in aka happiness. Aristotle wants people to study political science and have lots of experience simply living. Meanwhile Plato's Republic tells a different story regarding living an ethical life. Plato uses the allegory of the cave to demonstrate the dialectical process of the divided line. I am thankful for taking a philosophy class on The Republic, as now I can think about the material more clearly. Plato saw the last form of knowledge, the very final part of being dragged out of the cave and understanding the world as it was as the final Form of Good.
Both Aristotle and Plato see education and experience as a vital part of knowing what is good. I have always thought that ethics should be taught as a mandatory class in high school given its importance to our everyday actions. Plato sees an ideal citizen even going back into the cave aka public administration in order to teach others and guide them across the divided line of knowledge. Aristotle wants people to study in school (PoliSci) in order to be able to produce the greatest good. Applying this to the modern world, we often question the ethics of our public leaders and their capacity to reason adequately. It often seems that our congressional leaders- while smart- lack advanced degrees and higher education that Plato and Aristotle would expect them to have. Furthermore, I am certain they would object the publicity that is assigned to the role and the need for gossip by the public.
Perhaps in order for us to live in a more ethical world, our top minds in government should not be focused on politics early in their careers, but rather in the words of Aristotle "study virtue above all things" as that is what enables them to "make his fellow citizens good and obedient to the laws." At the very least, in order to properly understand technology, studying the maths and sciences with lots of ethics would create some great public servants.