Is That Right?

In previous discussions we looked at how behaviors have extremes. Excess or deficiencies are the states we want to avoid. There is a place in between that is a sweet spot. This is according to what is right and beneficial. Let’s look a little closer at the nature of this “right rule”. To say we should always do what is right has no merit since it is a general statement. Some go as far to say there is no right or wrong, but is that right? We have to assume there is right and wrong by every statement we make. In order to accomplish anything that is in a person’s heart, one must have a way to determine what is the right way. This is an activity of the soul.

Virtue is using something to its fullest potential and best use. The two uses of the soul pertain to character and intellect. Moral virtue has to do with character and we have already spent time looking at using our passions the best way possible. We agree that the soul has two parts within it, the rational and irrational. 

Our rational side also has two parts: one that deals in definites and one that deals with variables. The one side registers associations and likenesses such as calling all trees, trees. This is what is meant by the word science. When we study, we are simply registering observations and associations. The other part of our rational soul is calculative. It takes what we remember and theorizes. It comes up with “what ifs?”.  The calculative side is the part that is rational and grasps principles. Both of these parts serve a useful purpose.

For anything to serve its purpose we need to find how to use it best. Action and truth are the work of the soul and the there are three things that control them; sensation, reason and desire. Movement that originates out of sensation isn't voluntary but reactive. We don’t need to study it further as a source of actions. We are interested in purposed actions, the defining difference between animals and rational men.

We affirm or reject material that is presented in the arena of our mind. In a similar manner we either avoid or pursue desires. Choice is deliberate desire. We think about the feasibility of what we desire first and then pursue it. If both the thinking is true and the desire is right, a good choice is made. We affirm desires first by deliberation and then act on them. One part of our intellect looks at truth and falsehood without action in mind. Intellect becomes practical when we couple this with the right desire.

Without truth and without reasoning there can be no choice. Some may argue that there is no truth. But without truth there is nothing to choose between. In order to have any kind of a will there has to be right and wrong with true and false. We can call nothing good without a bad.  

Having information alone won't move anything but when it is coupled with desires, information can become productive. This combination of good character and good intellect go hand in hand to produce good results. We set goals for the future with the desires we have in the present. Then we use the intellect to determine if it is doable. This is the scope of our ability to choose. It is important to keep in mind that we cannot rechoice the past. Even God cannot change the past. All we desire and deliberate on to influence our actions should focus on what can be reasonably done now toward what is best for our future.  The work that we are trying to get out of the intellect is truth so we can move forward and not stumble.

We will next look deeper into the part of our intellect that grasps truth.   

You Owe Me!

It would be nice to remove all injustice in the world. But is all injustice on purpose? We have a word called offence that best describes this concept. Sometimes just by being ourselves we offend others. Some call petty things offenses. Having hurt feelings usually means an injustice occurred. We all have different interests and strengths. There are standard pushers that call certain things sins, syndromes or deficits. But in reality, each person has particular tastes, ambitions and gifts. Most petty offenses are manufactured by our biases and ambitions. Where can we start when it comes to removing injustice from the world?

The part that is most under our control is our own sense of injustice. There are times we should make things right with others when we have unintentionally given offence. Sometimes people are just fishing for it because they want sympathy. If we receive offense, there is also a proper time and place to deal with it. Sometimes we take it for the team and take the higher ground and other times it is necessary to tactfully deal with people and their mouths. Even in wartime we want to use just enough force to bring peace and fairness to a society. At times the damage caused seems unjust but is necessary to eradicate an evil. Our founders felt that death was a small price to pay for freedom. 

But narrow minded people magnify single acts to get others on their bandwagon to discredit those who don't believe in their cause. They ignore the big picture and the real facts. We see this in our sensationalized media toward law enforcement and our military. There are perceived injustices, temporary injustices and outright injustices that are given and received by all of us. These can range from day to day annoyances all the way up to outright unlawful acts.  It is up to us to keep things in perspective and try to understand first before taking action with our words or deeds. That is why studying ethics and structuring our thoughts is important. No one wants to spend their lives pining away about manufactured offences or trying to fix nonexistent ones.  

A person with good character learns to let things go that can’t be helped and to move on with productive things. Just think of how many relationships could be restored if we took time to understand and be effective. What if everyone was thankful for the sacrifices of others? What is keeping this from happening in the world?: Perceived injustices.

This concludes the section on injustice and why we are studying character. A society with good character is the best weapon against injustice. So lets move on and study the soul in more detail. Section six in Nicomachean Ethics.   

Driving

A good example to understand these principles is driving. We don’t get mad because people are selfish and have a destination but we find ourselves assigning motives to people. If we become absorbed in getting to our destination without considering other drivers, it makes driving miserable. There is nothing wrong with getting where we are going but it can be enjoyed when we consider that other people are just after the same thing. They sometimes get over-zealous as we do and there is no sense in getting angry about it. Anger in this case is bad for the blood pressure and causes us to make bad choices. Putting immediate pressure ahead of wellbeing can be dangerous and miserable.

These principles aren't meant to be condescending or a way to point fingers but the more we understand, the better equipped we are to deal with ourselves and others.  There are different personalities that can handle certain things. You would be surprised how many former truckers I know that just couldn't handle other drivers any more. I've met nurses that lost compassion and became teachers. There are alcoholics that cannot handle even one drink. Each person mentioned is a good person but recognizes their limitations. I don’t condemn them since I have my own.

When a limitation is recognized, the worst thing to do is to go in denial and allow it to cause major damage to one's own wellbeing. It is wise to back away to gather our wits. This is key to avoiding spirals in life. Each person has unique passions with potential to either cause damage to their lives or enhance their lives. It doesn't mean we should avoid passion and shelter ourselves, but learning how to deal with it can be a process. There are times when the best way is to overcompensate for a while and then come back with a different approach. Some things have to be avoided altogether. The former is the best approach and the latter more difficult. It is better to keep driving than to stay home.  

After the Bennies

One concept to keep in mind is that we are all little tyrants. Yes there are those who claim to be selfless but in the end we all pursue what is going to bring happiness to ourselves. Even in the example of a God giving his son, he still wants love from us and his son endured for the joy set before him. Neither act can be considered selfless. When we look at what is just, we have to look at what is good for both parties. Those who claim self-sacrifice usually take pleasure in having people think they are that way. It is still a form of self- interest and the pursuit of a pleasure.

The reason for making this point is to show that self-interest isn't a bad thing. Where it goes bad is when a person pursues his pleasure the wrong way. Affection should be for the right person, at the right time, under the right conditions, for the right reasons and in the right amounts. What makes something bad is when it becomes destructive to either person’s happiness. There is nothing wrong with having affection toward somebody. But it is in the application and the timing.

When a car goes into a slide the best chance of recovery is to relax and go with it. Over-correction will cause a person to lose control. To point fingers and find fault can cause more damage than simply examining things at their face value and making adjustments. If you say that someone is being selfish, I would ask what you are wanting out of it.  That is what justice is all about, finding solutions that benefit every party involved. People who are reasonable will take what is due them and will make sure the other person gets what they are due also. There are things that cause people to become unreasonable and we will examine them later.

It is the essence of virtue to both know what is beneficial and to do those things. Sometimes a person knows the right thing and doesn't do it while others simply don’t understand. Someone given to vice will pursue immediate gratification with no thought about how it affects well-being. A person who truly loves doesn't avoid gratification but will consider the effects of what he does toward the well-being of others first. We all admire a considerate person. His pleasure comes more from giving happiness over gratifying desires. Both people are pursuing pleasure; the former’s acts will be destructive while the latter will be beneficial.  

Conscience

We see a progression from conscience to morals to written laws. As we become more specific about the act, we become vague about the conditions. This makes it necessary to possess good judgment. A person of good character will be apt to apply good judgment when details present themselves. This is because the person is given to obeying his conscience. Right and wrong are found there but it becomes elusive to those who violate their conscience. We will go in detail about this later, but the point is that those we put in office or any leadership position must have good character to deal with particulars properly as they present themselves. Even among our associations we find that those who rely on preconceived notions and are self-righteous will also possess poor judgment. It brings inner peace to us when we have the ability to be just with our actions. That is where laws and morals fall short. They are based on violations and avoiding them has no value when it comes to being a good person. Goodness, peace and contentment come from within and not from obeying agreed upon standards. It is better to know what one is doing than to have the appearance of it.

Right and wrong do exist, but they exist in the arena of our conscience. Only we know the particulars such as our motives and intentions. When we hurt someone, we try to get the person to understand that part instead of the act alone. Those who are good at understanding each other in this way will have deeper relationships. This principle works in a community sense; as we understand, we can deal with people effectively and get along with each other. That is the meaning of grace: Making an effort to know what is really happening while keeping in sight of the goodness in others. 

We will find that there are people who defiantly disobey their conscience and those who want to obey it but are weak. The reasons for this vary and we will be getting into the subject a little at a time. First we will finish the section on justice in the book of Ethics. This has been a rabbit trail but I thought it important to explain why this study is valuable.  

Spontaneity

Since I built a roughed in structure in the last post, I should continue the summary and finish a few points: When we talk about passions and logic on a personal level, neither are good nor bad but there is a proper application that is right and this is unique to each individual. An actor will want to use passion more than a technician. People have different personalities, different upbringings and couple this with environments, we have a lot of particulars. We all have a gift called rational ability that helps us reason these things out as they present themselves. The ideal is to be self-governed and this brings the most happiness. No one likes to be a prude and be so disciplined that there is no room apply their passions to life. Moral codes are like maps, they give direction but aren't a replacement for the experience of a trip. There is so much to enjoy along the way and sometimes we want to take the back roads. Raising a generation that is good at using critical thinking and possess good judgment with the particulars should be our goal as a society.  Rules and codes are generalizations needed to address violations and if everyone made good decisions there would be little need for them.

When we interact with others, there are also particulars. If we want something built, we will make a contract that lays out as many details as possible so there are no misunderstandings. But spontaneity is desired when the relationship is for pleasure and fun. With spontaneity, the more that is allowed the more trust is involved; but it also gives the most pleasure. Even a contractor that is trusted will be given more leeway in design. Relationships are best when the people involved are allowed to set their own terms. No one wants outsiders to set the terms for them. It causes them to feel oppressed with no will of their own. With people at times there can be a clash of the wills. That is where rules of common courtesy apply. Free relationships will agree to their own boundaries according to the depth and the personalities. On a professional level, a car mechanic doesn't have to be as sensitive to his client as a doctor would. If people looked out for one another and used discretion, courtesy would be automatic and there would never be a need for others to intervene.

If everyone was self-sufficient and lacked greed, there would be no need for laws. There are so many variables that contribute to success in a productive community. At times things come together and sometimes they don’t. An occupation can be a perfect match for a person’s passions and they can make a good living at it.  Sometimes either the match is bad or no one wants to pay much for what a person has to offer. People who begin grasping and become spiteful can throw a wrench into the mechanism of a good productive culture. We see this on different levels. When determination and contentment are lacking, we need laws to keep these people from taking what doesn't belong to them. Treating a person who is poor with contempt is wrong. All hard working people are due respect regardless of what the economy rewards them. Good musicians should be able to enjoy their passion without being criticized if they aren't a rock star. A janitor should be able to hold his head high since greatness has to do with having pride in whatever work we are doing. But along the same line of thinking, success shouldn't be looked on with contempt either. Let people enjoy abundance if they have it. Why would it concern anyone else? That is why we need limited government; to keep spiteful planners out of our legal system. 

Laws should protect the freedom to produce according to one’s passions, balanced with self-discipline as one sees fit; to associate and make agreements without the interference of others; to discourage oppression from those have contempt for how life works and are eager to take the easy route of confiscation. It is far better that people be free to use their own compassion and benevolence. Voluntary exchanges build strong relationships in a community with less contempt towards others.       

I Know What You Did

Committing an unjust act doesn't always mean the person is unjust. There are those who do things selfishly and out of malice. But sometimes we do things either by mistake or our judgment is clouded. Someone might steal out of desperation rather than out of laziness. An act of adultery could occur out of passion of the moment rather than deliberate choice. Those who insulate themselves cannot pass judgment on those who had conditions come together without forethought. We have all seen well respected people fall into spirals of drugs, sex and corruption. Upbringing and personality are helpful factors in character. A self-righteous person is someone who assumes it is his awesome willpower and not his insulated life and lack of passion that keeps him out of trouble. Those who are humble will protect themselves knowing that they are just as vulnerable as the next guy. This person will also give others a break and will not pass judgment. Taking incidental information to form conclusions is a bad habit to get into. It causes us to be disliked and also become vulnerable. That is why it is said that pride goes before destruction.

With a person of good character there are always instances where things are done by mistake. Nobody is perfect. There are various areas this occurs. There are things that are done under compulsion such as a soldier doing his duty. In past history, soldiers held the lives of their families by their willingness to follow orders. Disgrace might mean the death of his love ones so they would do what they shouldn't. The Nuremberg trials were based on this. We do things out of ignorance to varying degrees. Someone who is crass might always tell the truth but isn't discreet about the sensitivities of the listeners. Some things that are done might be perceived as mean when the intention wasn't.

 Even just people can seem good when it really isn't on purpose. Someone who does what is right because of the fear of loss under a contract doesn't have better character over someone who always keeps his word even if there isn't a contract. So there are factors of compulsion that makes some people appear just and others unjust.

Some causes of unintentional hurt are: mistakes, malfunctions or conditions that change the outcome. An unintentional injury can occur in two ways: accidents and mistakes. An accident is when no person is at fault and other things caused it. A mistake is when it was human error. A person who deliberately injures another is vicious and unjust. Sometimes an act occurs out of a passion such as anger. Another person can be purposely causing the rage and would share the blame. It doesn't mean the person who committed the act is bad but was pushed beyond his limits. We all have limits. The justice of the act itself in these cases isn't so much in question as the origin of the passion. What it gets down to is when a person acts from choice there is a need for correction and the person is more likely to still be unjust and continue in his vice. Unintentional violations may need correction but it doesn't mean the person is bad. A just person will learn his lesson from it. Later we will examine how people get to each of these states. 

I hope this isn't too awful dry but there are good points. I like the metaphor that justice is universal like fire. It is always hot everywhere you go. These writings always build into something more but it is like any construction, it can be tedious at times but we learn skills along the way.  

It Wasn't Me!

We see that there is natural justice or common courtesy. This is the ideal and if we were all angels it would work out. Unfortunately there are malicious people in the world and we have to find a way to protect ourselves and others in our communities. That is why it is necessary to have legal justice. It reinforces natural justice. In the same way fire is hot everywhere you go, natural standards of justice are the same everywhere in the world. There are variations in how groups of people form them into written laws and so legal justice varies between communities. Legal justice is intended to reinforce natural law but it is hard to cover every situation and motive through written law and so there can be instances of legal justice violating natural justice.

There are instances where we perceive an injustice wrongly and some violations are unintentional. Mistakes and intentions have to be taken into account to help us avoid running around feeling slighted unnecessarily and also to avoid feeling guilty about things that couldn't be helped. And when it is a legal matter, it is important to penalize the guilty to the fullest extent and to give grace to those who hadn't intended to cause harm. It is important to understand that a person can be the cause of an injustice but not be at fault. We sometimes feel guilty for things that happen because what we did initiated a problem but the reality is that it couldn't be helped. But a malicious person will always claim it wasn't intentional so this causes all kinds of grey areas.

It is true that unjust acts that are done on purpose need to be resolved in some way. If the intent is obvious and someone takes responsibility, a resolution can come much easier and healing begin.  A voluntary injustice, an act of a person’s will, has different causes that we will go into later. There are times when an injustice wasn't an act of the person’s will. We certainly blame a person who is voluntarily unjust and want the situation made right. If a person didn't mean to do it, the act may be unjust but it might not be considered an injustice. We will look into the different situations we get ourselves into without even trying. Maybe it will help those of us who have a high sense of justice not to be so hard on ourselves and give us food for thought toward those we want to judge..

Unconditional

Unconditional relationships would be ideal. Unfortunately, some people have different perceptions on what is due and they take more than they ought. That is why we need rules and as a society we need laws. There are general rules that come natural and are out of consideration. Justice balances out what is taken and what is given so people can be satisfied. Satisfaction in this context means neither party feels violated. Natural justice is the best kind because it doesn't need a third party mediator. “Let’s just keep this between you and me” is how we want our relationships to be. Even in financial transactions, natural justice denotes a kind of friendship between two people. To walk away from a deal with mutual respect is important. We like having the ability to give someone a deal and get a bargain ourselves. But there will be times when one party rips off another and we need laws to limit the damage and rectify the situation.

We say true love is unconditional. And love is forever. It also true that love is the ultimate acceptance of another person with all their flaws but we still make marriage vows to guarantee that kind of love. People change or might try to take advantage of one other. We have laws in our culture that try to keep things even when that occurs.  Whenever a third party is needed to mediate in interactions between any two people, we can assume the free association has been violated by one or the other and it is a sad thing. “Let’s keep this between ourselves”, is the ideal.

It would be nice if we could always be free to use our potential. Unfortunately, it is a human trait to do what is easy. In everything we do there comes a time when it becomes drudgery. We have to use self-discipline to complete the things we start. We strive to have justice within ourselves between our passions and our reason.  As a youth we work hard to get the self-discipline needed and as time goes by we miss the passion. There is a system of justice inside of all of us where passion and reason each have the part in our lives that is due them.  We don’t want a third party to come in and set the limits for us and violate our free will. This can be at our jobs or in our leisure; in relationships with others or in what we do alone. The ideal is that we work it out within ourselves. This isn't always possible and sometimes we do need help and support.  

The point is that as much as we hate it, we need self-discipline and sometimes we need help. The best kinds of rules are those we set ourselves. If we cede anything to a third party, it better have good character and the scope must be limited so it doesn't impede our passions any more than is necessary. This includes rules, laws and people. No one wants to be lorded over. And there are too many that are willing to be this way. Some do it to feel better about themselves at our expense and others do it to acquire gain from our misfortune. It might be a perceived standard of perfection they want to impose. But help should always lead toward independent thought, unleashing our potential and the ability to rule one’s self.    

Trust

We champion voluntary transactions between people as being the foundation of freedom. We interact with people on different levels. Trust is the confidence that another person will treat us justly. There is a level of trust toward others on the road that they will obey traffic laws and pay attention. Negligence angers us because they willingly break that trust. This works on different levels. We make contracts so expectations are spelled out. Verbal agreements are made on different levels. A fun person would be expected to give entertainment and a responsible friend would be expected to keep us out of trouble. The possibilities are unlimited. We trust friends with our secrets that could be embarrassing. A soul mate will be entrusted with far more than an acquaintance. We all want someone we can trust, who will accept us as we are. When an unauthorized person imposes on this we feel violated. Privacy is the ability to share what we want with whom we want. This is another facet of freedom. The greatest possession we have is our soul. That is why gossip and sharing private information is such a violation and we feel an injustice has occurred when it happens. All agreements to share and interact have conditions of trust. We call this natural justice.

When we proceed into justice for a community, the agreements for sharing and transactions become more complex since there are so many degrees and opinions. That is the point where written contracts become necessary. We call these written contracts “law”. The further we get from honest personal interactions, the harder it is to take everyone’s situation into account. That is why we limit the scope of federal laws the most, to state laws, to local but prefer that people work things out among themselves on a personal level. Experience teaches us that leaving the power to maintain order for the masses up to individual discretion will end up in tyranny. The people have to come together and agree on what power will be ceded to whom. We hope that we can trust them with small areas of our freedom to make things run smoother. Traffic needs stop lights to keep everyone moving.  This defines legal justice. 

Tip Well

We looked at three kinds of justice. Distributive is the kind of justice where a group has a claim to something common to all. There are situations between two people that need to be rectified at times. This is where rectification comes in. People make contracts and have laws to make this as clear as possible; black and white. A mediator will correct things if there is an injustice. There is also a form of justice that brings people together. It is the basis for freedom; justice by reciprocation.

There are times when a service is more valuable than a simple one to one transaction can rectify. A doctor will get paid more for his service than a janitor. Everyone should do his job to the best of his ability to have good character. But we all know that the doctor, due to his commitment to our health and well-being, should get paid more. Allowing individuals to make these judgment calls is what defines freedom. If this doctor sees someone who cannot afford his services, he can use discretion and give that person a break. All good people want to have the ability to do this sort of thing and help others out. Freedom is needed to reward those who excel. It motivates them to do better and allows us to appreciate quality. And the contrary, there should be freedom to pay less and help less, those who take advantage of us. 

Rectification is black and white, but is also legalistic. It reminds me of an arranged marriage. There are those who think they know what is best for us and want to rule our lives. But to have real love, one must have the ability to reject or accept another person. This takes more time and has winners and losers, but it is worth it since there is freedom where there is a choice. True justice cannot be confined to laws in the same way that love cannot be confined to a marriage license. Laws are borders: The landscape belongs to choice and a free will.

There is a difference between legalistic justice and grace. With grace we can release a debt or give a lavish reward for a job well done. Reciprocation gives room for these things. Socialism is a form of legalism with the planning done by others like an arranged marriage. Liberty gives people room for free relationships and interactions with all its rewards. This brings closeness within communities and families. Of course friendship and love based agreements can be abused. But allowing freedom in these areas is what life is all about and is the only way we can find self-satisfaction. It doesn't matter if we are talking about a citizen toward his country, an employee in a company or in a marriage: Freedom takes trust and trust is a risk. It doesn't always pan out,  but the only alternative is legalism and robots…..The unjust state for reciprocation is to impair the ability of individuals to use their own will and voluntarily make transactions with others. But 'just' reciprocation is is well worth the risk because opportunities are always there when freedom exists.

What do You Expect?

Interactions between two people have expectations of certain behavior depending on the relationship. It ranges from taking your place in line, to contracts, employment and relationships. When the mutual expectation isn't honored, there is conflict because of the injustice. Rather than virtue for one person, this kind of justice depends on two. The middle ground or median is both people getting what they expect. We find injustice when one side experiences too much loss and the other more gain than was due. Fixing it is called rectification, where a situation needs to be rectified. 

We make laws according to what should be fair and appoint judges to find that happy median. That is why they are called mediators at times. There can be contract disputes that rise from voluntary transactions and there can be violations such as violence where someone was hurt involuntarily. The judge tries to correct the wrong. This might be done by lawsuits that try to even things out. It can also be done by penalties for wrongdoing that at least take pleasure away from someone who causes hurt to others. 

We recognize corrective justice the most and it is closest to black and white when all the details are known. Every good person seeks to make sure their interactions are fair; where others get good out of it and everyone is happy. Unfortunately, we all have different perceptions and may expect more than what is due. That is why we put things down on paper and also why we establish law and order.  In casual interactions we expect a certain amount of respect and kindness and can feel violated when someone is out of order. Take road rage or waiting in line for shopping as examples. There are certain expectations that might be violated but the law kicks in when the behavior gets to the point of injury. But this isn't the only form of justice we know, there is one more that is a better way.  

As we add value to interactions they become less black and white. People forced to simply take what they get are close to slaves. When we can give grace to those we care about or give more to those who have a valuable service, another form of justice is practiced. Reciprocity is what binds people together. With this we can value something and pay accordingly or give someone a break because we value them. This is the foundation for freedom. It is when this free exchange is interrupted that a society pulls apart and becomes resentful toward one another and their government. More next time…. 

I Have Rights!

Distributive justice is the basis we use to determine rights. It is distributing property or an ideal to each person that belongs to a group. If a person doesn't get what the group thinks is due him, there is an injustice. These perceived rights can either establish greatness or wickedness. It is safer when it is on a small scale such as a right to an inheritance because of belonging to a family. But if a large enough group is convinced of perceived rights, such as being a superior race with the right to eliminate others, it becomes dangerous. That is why a government has to be limited to certain rights that are without argument. Our rights were narrowed down to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our founders then added a bill of rights to further define what those terms meant. When philosophies come in to convince enough people that they have rights that violate these, a Pandora's box is opened and there is no telling what might come out. Whenever a small group gets the ear of a majority, the entire society has to suffer with it. So distributive justice defines rights to access a portion of something important for a group. But trouble occurs when people decide to champion their own passions as rights. The group always feels justice is served by punishing those who don't agree. There isn't a conservative or liberal to this. It is a general principle like a math equation.  

Justice is an important subject to understand. Next we will look at what turns the black and white areas of common justice into grey. I will preface it by saying; with grace there is freedom.    

All for One!

One face of justice describes a sort of transaction between two people of which they should have equal access. One shouldn't be penalized at the expense of the other. Each person should receive what he is due. When a person takes too much for himself it is unjust because it takes away from another. We want to see continuity in what is perceived as valuable. An injustice occurs when it is withheld . So in this kind of justice, equality has to do what has merit, be it ownership, citizenship or some other thing. Different cultures value different things. It may be hard work that is valued or creativity. But each culture wants to give every person his chance at something and if it is withheld, an injustice occurs. 

Distributive justice has to do with allowing people to have equal access to a whole. The arguments in this area of justice lie in what is to be distributed. A libertarian values individualism. A communist might value equal distribution of natural resources and currency. Socialism considers making social utopia a priority.  A republican believes that unity through a limited government distributes freedom. A Christian wants salvation for everyone. Some say all we need is love. Each has their own definitions of what is owed to a society equally. If their standard is violated, they feel there is an injustice. When their ideal is distributed, justice to them occurs in a society.  

With Halloween, equal distribution of chocolate is priority. We will continue and look at another face of justice...

Let's Be Fair

My motive for this blog is to make complex things simple. I am a details person so forgive me for digressing into them once in a while as in the last post. This will be short and to the point…

We cannot cover every injustice by making laws. There is an expectation of fairness between people that shouldn't depend upon laws. We have our broad written laws, people’s opinions that can be even broader and then we have what is actually fair for each situation. Each situation has rules of  fairness that are written in our hearts. Good people that know all the particulars will also recognize what is fair.

In order to treat ourselves well and treat others the same, we practice virtue; using our passions and acts how they benefit the most to bring the most happiness. Good laws will be based in this while forbidding vice. Should our laws be used to educate everyone for the common good? Whose responsibility is it to produce good people and the resulting happiness? We can address this in more depth later but it seems to be a function of society in some ways but also an individual responsibility in others.

A person can appear good publicly, but does that make him a good person? Any country will have good and bad people while their culture might have different definitions of good. There are always pretenders and players and those who are genuine regardless of the cultural norms that surround them. This is true in church and family associations also. We seek the genuine in everything without having to lay down the law to produce pretenders. Let's examine how we come to agreement concerning what is just. It will take a little trip through particulars but I promise it will be sweet...

Just Me..

To get more specific concerning justice, we have to look at certain criteria: What kind of actions we are talking about, at what point we find justice and what are the extremes. We might be taking it too far or not far enough. In this way it is similar to the preceding discussions.

When we talk about someone being just, we consider a sort of person that would do what is just because one wants to. An unjust person wouldn't have much of a desire for justice. Some treat justice like a math equation where precise answers are possible under every condition. But in reality we are taking an Ideal and looking at where things get off base. We see examples instead of equations. Everyone knows what a healthy person is and will want to emulate health. There really isn't a desirable contrary at all. The interest is more about achieving the ideal of health rather than the exceptions.  

Sometimes the contrary shines a light on the ideal and we focus on how we don’t want to be. Other times it is recognized when we see the ideal in others and we see how we want to be. A person might dislike being flabby and want to become a little more firm or might want to be buff like a body builder.  How high the ideal is will also be the same for the contrary. Being out of shape has a different meaning for either state. It is the same way for justice. Words also have different meanings. The word “shot” could be from a gun a glass or mean something is worn out.

So there is no misunderstanding let’s find a starting point: Unlawful and greedy unfair people are considered unjust. So it would follow that law abiding and fair people are considered just. But what is the greedy person grasping at?

Seeking prosperity and avoiding adversity is always considered a good thing. But it doesn't always produce good for everyone. People seek goods and pray for them but really shouldn't. They should pray for things that are good for them. An unjust person views lesser things in life as something to be obtained and grasps at them at the expense of truly good things. Since good people also desire them, this person feels justified while making his life miserable. Life seems unfair to him and so he thinks it is just to be unfair to others.

A lawless man is one that breaks the communities laws. Laws are in general made to encourage justice between citizens. Therefore a lawless man is considered unjust. The law is there to produce and preserve happiness by penalizing vice and encouraging virtue. The brave, temperate and faithful shouldn't worry about breaking laws. Well thought out laws will do this but the hastily made ones don’t.  So the spirit of laws should always be virtue but it isn't absolute. It can be said that in justice every virtue is comprehended. Laws should be an exercise of complete virtue. It helps people to be fair to others and not just themselves. The focus of justice is in relation to other’s happiness and not just our own. Since virtue is the best state a person can be, justice entails all virtue. But it isn't virtue itself since it always includes one’s neighbors. It is this kind of justice according to virtue that we are investigating.

If a person commits wrongdoing but doesn't have a bad motive, we are more apt to give him a pass. For example a person who runs out of fear, speaks harshly out of a bad temper or ignores a need because he is frugal. The vices mentioned here are injustices toward the virtues of courage, temperance and liberality. Inside injustices there are worse states than others. A person who commits adultery to make money is different than one who does it out of passion. One would be considered unjust and unlawful because of the gain while the other is self-indulgent. There is injustice that is always related to a particular vice such as adultery to self-indulgence, desertion to cowardice and physical violence to anger. But there is also a broad sense of injustice that has to do with ripping others off. This person wants money, safety, honor or all of them. The pleasure of getting these things is his real motive. We can see that there is one form of justice that is connected to the many virtues and another that is distinct from them that is connected with the vice greed. How can we make things equal in a society? That will be the next subject.   

Shame on you

We consider virtue the application of our passions that produce the best character traits. Shame is a feeling that accompanies mistakes. Different kinds of dishonor cause physical responses. A person who fears will turn pale while someone who is ashamed will blush. So both have a physical manifestation but we still consider them emotions.

It is expected that young people will feel shame frequently since they haven’t perfected their character and make a lot of mistakes. It is a good gauge for them and it restrains them from doing wrong. As a result, we praise them for being ashamed. Older people don’t feel shame as often since they make fewer mistakes due to maturity and it seems out of the norm. It is the same for someone we considered of good character since shame is the consequence of bad actions and we don’t expect it out of them. It is more of a shock for a good person to do something bad than it is for a bad person. There are things that are truly bad and others that are bad because of societal norms. Either will produce shame and should be avoided so a person can be confident among his peers. We are at the end of a study concerning popularity after all. To feel confident at doing wrong acts is the mark of a bad person. To do something disgraceful and yet consider it good is absurd. It is odd for a confident and habitually good person to willingly commit bad actions. Shame can be a good thing but only under certain conditions. A good person is more apt to feel disgrace when doing bad things. It seems the better a person’s heart is, the more sensitive one is to shame. This is unlike a virtue. Having shamelessness isn't a virtue since it is bad not to care.  Shame always has an act associated with it. We don’t seek shame as a virtue but see it as a product of wrongdoing. Self-restraint isn't a virtue in itself either but it is a mixed state where every person has strengths and weaknesses, similar to shame, where certain things bother some people more than others. We will address this in more detail later but first an important foundation must be laid to increase understanding and confidence within ourselves and toward others.…Justice. This is the start of book five...  

Funny

Another kind of social interaction that we enjoy is comedy. In this area there are things that are tasteful and others that are not so much. It has to do with saying and listening to the things one should and in a manner that one should. Of course the group you are in makes all the difference as to how far one should take both listening and saying. We do see an excess and a deficiency along with an area that is tasteful or correct in the middle. Those who carry humor too far are considered vulgar. They will stoop to any level to make an attempt at being funny; even if it offends everyone. There are also boorish people who don’t get or try to participate in anything. Those who are have good taste are in the middle and we call them quick witted; this means they are fast with a joke in the same way someone might have fast bodily reflexes. It isn't hard to see the ridiculous side of things and most people tend toward making fun of things and people more than they should. That’s why vulgarity can be popular. Vulgar comedians are considered funny. But there is a difference between this and someone who is funny because of wit.

We know we should be tactful. This kind of person will pick up on what is acceptable to those he hangs out with. A well-brought up man will have limits to what he will ridicule while a vulgar man could care less. Certain things are funny to an educated person that wouldn't be to someone who isn't educated. To some, vulgar language is funny while others like dry humor. Even innuendos have their limit of propriety depending on the crowd. So how do we call someone a good comedian? Is it his tactfulness, ability to insult or only how much he makes everyone laugh? We have to define it by the latter but then it gives humor a vague meaning, depending on the crowd. At any rate a person does well to know the humor of those he hangs around with and also know what is acceptable so as not to insult his friends. Then there is the problem of political correctness that goes along with politics; same problem in Athens too. A professional will pay attention to not abuse others or the law. Usually someone who has been brought up right has an easier time with this.

So we have the jerk at one end who is a slave to his own style of humor. He doesn't care about hurting anyone as long as someone laughs. He doesn't even care about his own character. A well refined person has the best state that is tactful or quick witted. The boor is pretty much useless for social interactions. He is too busy finding fault. We do agree however that humor and fun are necessities for a good life.

Concluding our look at popularity and social interaction, we see three areas: Demeanor, Honesty and Humor. All three belong to the middle area between extremes. Of these, two have to do with how much pleasure one brings to the group and the other how much truth.  

We all have to deal with guilt and shame at times. Virtue isn't found in these since they are feelings. That will be our next subject.  

Don't Exaggerate..Maybe a Little..

Since falsehood is disliked, we also dislike dishonest people. When we describe an honest man in this application, we aren't looking at honesty pertaining to contracts and justice. We are interested in the person who tells the truth when nothing is at stake. This person habitually says what is truthful and you can depend on his word. This person is well liked and reliable. Certainly he will follow through with contracts and be just since he is honest when there is no issue. He hates falsehood and won’t exaggerate things. A person like this is far more likable than a braggart because people get bored with exaggerations.

We are annoyed by those who exaggerate habitually. It is much worse if he is exaggerating to receive something unjustly. A person who is insecure and overstates is usually given a pass. But those who do it to get money or position have a much uglier character. We can see that it is the purpose behind boasting that makes it into something bad. Some people are natural story tellers but if they make false claims about qualifications to get money or to positions as we stated earlier he becomes a liar. To claim one can accomplish a feat really doesn't affect others but to claim to be a doctor is harmful. One is annoying at its worst and the other is destructive to his neighbors.   

There are those who are humble and understate things. This kind of character attracts others because he is not out to prove anything or compete with anyone. He just wants to avoid applause. Sometimes there is false humility where credit is annoying to the person. We call this person a humbug and it looks similar to boasting. We can say that exaggeration and false humility are both types of boasting. But those who are humble will understate just a little and won’t do it to draw attention to their humility. People are attracted to this kind of honesty while boasting can be a turn off.  

Next time we are going to have a little fun…literally… The discussion will be about what kind of person is fun to be around and what behaviors go over the top.  We are still on what makes for good social interaction or in other words "popularity". 

Bragging

Ethics is a study on how people can come together for reasonable interactions. Making sure each side feels the interaction is “just” is the goal.  But since every person is an individual with different interests, talents and needs, this can be a difficult task. We went over sections about recognizing character traits that make us honorable. By applying the right amounts of passions at the right times, we show good character. The last one was about popularity; what makes a person pleasant to be around. We looked at the right amount of directness for given situations and will proceed to where confidence works best.

When we talk about boasting, we consider it a bad trait. But we should be able to tell others when we have accomplishments. There is a kind of bragging that is proper. Nothing is wrong with being proud of yourself. A person who is overly timid can be annoying and isn't pleasant to be around. A braggart is someone who is claims to have done things that bring glory but they are exaggerated. It can be in numbers or the intensity of these deeds. The key then, is truth and falsehood in words and deeds. A timid person in this sense will always play things down and claim it wasn't a big deal; a kind of false humility. These extremes have to do with a personality and are normally harmless. The person just tends toward that kind of behavior and everyone understands it. But when there is an ulterior motive, it becomes a matter of truth and falsehood. This brings us to another realm: An honest man or a liar. Honesty is considered praiseworthy but dishonesty is despised: Especially when a person is boastful and takes credit for things he didn't do. It would follow that we will look at honesty in the next section. 

Let's Hang Out

We have all run into with “yes men”; those who will do anything to get people to like them. The other extreme is someone who is contrary and opposes everything. This person might be called contentious and could care less about hurting those around him. There is a middle ground here: a person who is discrete and opposes the right things the right way. We like others to be friendly and when there is affection added, the person is a friend. Absent passion or care for the person is simply being kind since there is no relational value. Kindness is a state of character in this application and a kind person will be that way towards strangers and his friends. He will lean toward not causing pain to others yet at the same time will be honest and discrete. A kind person will pay attention to the kind of people he is around and will act accordingly all the while using discretion. He will choose his fights and only speak ill when honor is at stake. Confrontation isn't the goal and will only happen as necessary. A kind person will try as much as possible to be a blessing to others.  

We see this middle ground that belongs to people who are pleasant to be around. One extreme belongs to the person who is a yes man. There are two reasons for this behavior. One is that he only wants the pleasure of being liked and the other is that he wants something out of the relationship. The person who is kind because he wants something is a flatterer.  The other extreme is completely opposite; the contentious person who wants to argue about everything. There are various reasons for this such as wanting to appear knowledgeable or having a bad demeanor. But we have to agree that a person who is kind yet tactful is the one everyone likes to hang out with. 

Man Up!

We looked at how anger is a good and necessary passion when applied properly. We admire those who have discretion and an even temper. A person who lacks the proper amount of anger and is indifferent toward injustices is considered a fool and a coward. This person may lack discretion and get mad at the wrong things while not caring about what he should. Someone who doesn't defend himself from insult or help his friends is passive and easily pushed around. This isn't admirable behavior.

Excessive anger shows itself in many ways. A person can have a high intensity, get mad too quickly, apply it to the wrong things or the wrong people. The extremes in all variations aren't often found in a person all at once thankfully or we would maniacs. So a quick tempered person gets mad right away usually at the wrong things and too much. But the good thing about this is that a hot-tempered person normally gets over it fast so they are more enjoyable to be around. They are free with passion and it doesn't get bottled up. You know upfront how they feel. There is a variation of this where a person has a chip on his shoulder and is quickly mad at everything and everyone without discretion. A hot-headed person isn't enjoyable to be around and will get you in trouble.  

There are those who sulk. I think we call this passive-aggressive today. This kind of person is very hard to appease because he seeks vengeance. Until this happens, a person with this temperament won’t be satisfied. He takes pleasure in getting back at people. It takes a long time for him to digest anger that isn't satisfied by reprisal. He causes a lot of trouble for himself and his friends. A bad tempered person like this will take offence for the wrong things, too much and for too long. He seeks vengeance and punishment unnecessarily and won’t be satisfied until his drama is appeased. We tend to dislike excessive anger more than passiveness. A bad-tempered person is very difficult to live with.  

It isn't easy to define by generalizations what the proper amount of anger is for each situation. If a person strays slightly, we don’t get upset about it. As a matter of fact we call passive person even tempered. We call those who have more anger “manly” and tell people to “man up”. The decision on how far to go either way depends on the degree of the offence and the position the person is in. Sports tend toward aggression while a counselor will be expected to show restraint. We can say that there is an application of the proper amount and to the proper objects that is virtuous and beneficial while a person who goes to the extremes will damage relationships and his life. 

Passions

We all have passions that drive our actions. These passions rise up within us involuntarily; we do our best to recognize them and try to apply them properly to life’s situations. This is easier said than done. Intensity, personality, experiences and timing contribute to our ability to do as we ought to. A diligent person will examine these passions and put them in order so when these passions arise he can objectively, without the hindrances of guilt and uncertainty, do the right thing.  As a person improves in applying passions correctly, his character is improved. Good character helps a person to be acceptable to oneself and others. We shouldn't try to get rid of passions by demonizing them but apply them at the right time to the right things in the right amounts. And this ‘right’ is the application that maximizes the potential in that particular individual; the proper definition of virtue. Don’t hold back on your passions but do try to make good come out of them.

The next passion is anger. We recently examined benevolence and pride. Anger has a general application to everyone because it doesn't matter what life has given us, rich or poor, we all have to deal with it.

Anger has two extremes, a hot temper in one direction and passivity at the other. Things that cause this passion are numerous and diverse. Someone who has this under control is considered good tempered and good temper seems to lean toward the passive side of things.

Healthy anger is the kind that is mad at the right things and the right people. Healthy anger also should be applied the proper way for the situation, at the right time and for the right duration. A person who is good at it is praised. His anger doesn't rule him but it motivates him to do what is needed to deal properly with things that need correction. A good tempered person doesn't take action to seek revenge but uses grace toward others.  

Now that we know a little about healthy anger, let’s have fun and examine the ways it gets out of line. Examples of this are everywhere. Some are funny and others not so much..

Feeling Ambitious

We studied greatness as it concerns wealth and greatness as it concerns pride. The former has to do with spending money and the latter has to do with noble acts. There are extremes to both; deficiency and excess. And we explored the proper application of each as it is commonly understood by normal rational people. This proper application is called the mean, where virtue is found. With these there are also degrees. A person can have enough to just get by all the way up to being considered rich. One can be considered honorable by a few all the way to being considered a great person by the masses. The degree doesn't change the principles of recognizing deficiency, excess and the mean. We should be doing what we ought to regardless of where we are in life.

To conclude the study on pride, we will look at a common form of pride called ambition. This isn't greatness but leads to it. As in other virtues, this not only has a proper application called the mean but it is according to the right sources and done the right way. An overly ambitious person will go after the wrong things or go about it the wrong way to try to seek honor. A lazy person doesn't care about what is noble or honorable. Sometimes the lazy person is treated with more respect because he doesn't step on peoples toes. There is nothing wrong with seeking success, but we despise those who go about it in the wrong way or who want the wrong things. To have the right amount of ambition is admirable and sought after but we don’t really have a word that describes it. What is the right amount of honor a person should seek before he is being unrealistic? We do know that we shouldn't be lazy and we should seek worthy goals.  The right amount of ambition is found between the extremes of being over-zealous and indifferent.

Now on to anger….

A Grand Scale

A person who has healthy pride isn't out to prove himself so there are few things that he considers honorable enough to risk his life for. But he will sacrifice his life for a worthy cause since there are some situations that he would rather die than participate in. 

He also would rather be the giver than the receiver and others usually end up owing him. A giving person will be remembered more than a needy one. He is embarrassed to be considered a recipient to anyone. He will be dignified to those who are in high positions but don’t easily associate with middle class because they are intimidated by his manner. They usually consider those who succeed as automatically being stuck up. We aren't talking so much about confidence but what goes over and above; the things that are honorable on a grand scale. Today it might be a sports star or accomplished politician. I would think Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr. or the founders of the United States. Everywhere we go there are those who do extraordinary things. This person excels in uncommon areas and may even risk his life for the cause. You won’t find this person being a dependent, so flatterers are despicable to him. He won’t talk about others either because his ego isn't fed at the expense of others. His memory of wrongs is short and he doesn't talk bad about his enemies. He isn't a whiner and acts respectfully to others. You will find that he also likes to own beautiful things only for the sake of beauty.

  A person with a strong healthy ego will have less anxiety and more peace since he doesn't take himself too seriously. He doesn't get in a hurry or get too excited about things. This follows the pattern of greatness where there is vanity for undeserved honor with the other extreme being those who have false humility. The problem with undue humility is that a person constantly robs himself of the good things he deserves. We don’t consider this person a fool as in wealth but just being hard on himself. They don’t take the initiative to reach their potential and it is sad. Vain people however will try hard to get people to honor them even if they have to make things up. They dress up and do things for appearance sake but there is little substance to them. This person might take a stroke of good luck and showcase it as though they did something great. There seems to be more insecure people as compared to vain ones however and insecurities cause more damage to a person’s life. Confidence, the most common ego type will be addressed next. 

Hand in Hand

We are studying pride. The modern terms we might use is ego, greatness, or self-esteem. Some consider all pride a sin and some say it is the original one. But we all recognize that everyone, in order to have a healthy mind, needs to have a certain amount of it. Too much and a person becomes vain and too little and a person has false-humility. There is another element that has to accompany accomplishment and stature in order to have greatness and that is virtue.

Every person desserves honor according to their merit. This varies according to each act. But if a person does a worthy deed yet is a despicable person, we don’t consider them great. A healthy ego doesn't go with cowardly acts or stealing. It is absurd to say so. Healthy pride must be the crown of all the virtues. Virtue goes hand in hand with great accomplishments to produce honor. A noble act done out of cheating is disqualified and impure. This makes it harder to find people of true greatness since some have good character and nobility without the means and others have the means without good character.  A great person will be more concerned about doing what is honorable. He will be pleased when good men honor him for the good things he does. He will hate getting honor from people who don’t know him or for trifling things. A great person has a strong sense of justice. The interesting thing about a great person is that he isn't anxious about seeking greatness. He holds things loosely while using moderation toward wealth and power. He isn't obsessed with retaining them nor does he gloat when he receives them. Positions to him are an honor and they require diligence. He expects the same out of those he works with. This can make him contemptible to coworkers at times.

Sometimes we confuse fortune with greatness. People who are born into it or have earned wealth are thought to automatically be superior to everyone else. These people tend to have more of a problem with pride since so many people equate greatness with wealth. The truth is that without goodness a person isn't worthy of honor. Those with great possessions that lack virtue have nothing to be proud of. A person can be insolent and disdainful even if they are rich. This kind of person has a hard time with riches and due to the feeling of superiority will treat others bad and have unreasonable demands. They imitate a great person whenever they can but their true colors show through by how they treat others. A great person will despise justly and hate things that are truly wrong because his head is on straight. But the insolent person despises randomly. You never know what is going to make him mad.

This has been good so far and we will continue examining having a healthy ego..

I Think I'm Grand

The word “pride” has numerous applications. We see confidence as a good and arrogance as bad. There is also the annoying trait of false-humility. Lets take a little time and examine this thing called “pride” to find where a person ought to be.

Pride gets its meaning from accomplishments that are universally recognized as being great. A person shouldn't mind being recognized for these and this is honorable; the proper use of pride. The man who wants recognition yet hasn't really done anything is a fool and a virtuous person is not a fool. There is also ordinary satisfaction for day to day things, but we are focusing on the extraordinary. There are those who stand out in their physical beauty and those who are normal. A person who thinks more of oneself than one ought to is vain. The opposite is false-humility. We see that there can be a distance between the honor one deserves and what one takes. This distance varies also with the greatness of the accomplishments. The proper amount of recognition is the target we are seeking.  A person who demands too much or asks too little is in an extreme and has missed the mark.

So what is the end-game of pride? What does one think he deserves? It would be something everyone recognizes universally and be something above external goods that even great people aim at. The prize for noble deeds is honor. Honor is what great people seek after.  We see wealthy people and celebrities that seek honor through charity work or awards. Their money and accomplishments are never enough. So honors and dishonors are what healthy pride looks at.  False-humility plays down what merits are due as compared to someone with healthy pride. Vanity will exaggerate merits as compared to a person with healthy pride. 

This is an important subject that is addressed in many ways by religions and philosophies. We will continue and look at insolence verses gracefulness… 

Great!

The translation from the Greek that I like the best is that of W.D. Ross. I try to modernize some of the terms to make it understandable. 

The next subject has to do with what he termed magnificence or what we might call the uber-rich or ultra-liberal. Our focus is on someone who exceeds in benevolence ;  a person we would call a philanthropist. This person may have received wealth in different ways such as inheritance, successful businesses or a combination of these. But we are looking at how riches are spent. Of course the scale is relative; a person who has a lot will be able to do more.  This doesn’t discount those who have less means but are just as giving. A low income person can be a giver but we don’t call them a philanthropist. The term has to do with doing great things. It doesn’t include vulgar and showy spending. There are those of great means that are stingy and those who are big spenders for show; these are vices that we will address later.

A philanthropist is like an artist who looks for good tasteful things to spend his wealth on. As with a liberal person, he will make sure what he invests in goes to good use. He looks at the results more than how it might make him appear. It is based in honor in the same way as is common to all virtues. He does it without grudging and close calculation. It is his pleasure. Beauty is more important than cost. He doesn’t possess art due to its value since gold has value and is easier to store. He owns it for the beauty and that it inspires admiration. This kind of excellence is in all he invests, buildings, churches and public services. Everything he does is in large scale, honorable and good. Even in private occasions such as weddings, he makes sure it is one of the best around and that everyone enjoys it. He wants whatever he does to be the best available and also of the highest quality.

The excess of this is the big spender who spends more than what is right. He will have a tasteless showiness in all that he does. His purpose isn’t excellence but to show off his wealth. The honorable things are neglected and for a show he will overspend on entertainment. The miser of course will fall short in spending on everything. He will buy great things and let them decay. Everything is examined on how it can be done cheaply and he complains about the size and cost of what he does do. But he does recognize that public relations is important so he spends only to benefit his holdings. These states of character are vices but not a disgrace since they don’t hurt anyone.

So much for explaining the extremes of benevolence and possessiveness; we have looked at how we ought to behave by being liberal and and a philanthropist. I hope these writing are staying engaging. The next subject continues on this line of thought, it is the subject of Pride.

Mine!

Ethics is a study on how to understand ourselves and others so we can get along well. This isn’t a religious study. Civility is a universal principle and having the ability to negotiate and understand are valuable traits to have. Getting along with ourselves and others is necessary to get the most out of our talents, dreams and relationships. This is the essence of a happy life. Let’s continue looking at wealth and its effect on people.

We have looked at the traits of a truly liberal person and also prodigal behavior. Terms we put on human behavior always have variations because we are all diverse. The principles that maximize our particular personalities and talents have similarities and it is these similarities that we are studying. Next we will take a look at a possessive person and will finish up with the traits of a prosperous person. Aristotle calls a possessive person ‘mean’ and a prosperous person ‘magnificence’. 

There are many types of possessiveness. We use names like stingy or miserly and I am sure you can think of others. They fall short in two areas; they give too little and take too much. All types fall short in giving but they vary in how and where they fall short in taking. Some hoard money out of an honest fear of failure. They have a good motive for keeping what they have, yet fall short in giving to others. Another kind doesn’t like to pay out and assumes everyone else is that way. It causes them to be shy about receiving from others. This person thinks they are being honorable and ends up paralyzed in both giving and receiving.  

There is a type of possesiveness that is based in malice. This is the extortioner who will take money any way possible; pimps, mobsters and those who take advantage of others by charging high rates of interest. Those who do it small time, we might call a gangster or a burglar.  Those who are into it big time would be a despot or a politician who is prone to plunder. They all have the same thing in common and that is the sordid love of gain. They are willing to endure the disgrace of it and are willing to rip their friends off in the process. Getting ahead is all that matters to this person and honor is secondary. This form of taking from the wrong sources isn’t admirable; it is the worst kind of possessiveness.

Being possessive comes natural to humans and is what we consider the opposite of liberality. It is worse to most observers than being an over-spender. Next we will examine prosperity and the traits of a prosperous person.

Running Short

A truly liberal person will pay attention to whom and what he spends his money on. He values his wealth as a means to support his household and help those who really need it. A prodigal doesn’t care about who receives from him as long as he is liked. Being liked is more important to him than the fact that he is giving to crooks or enabling bad habits. Wealth becomes a liability when it is being used for appearances or some kind of superiority. This can be sought either by striving to have better things than others or by buying their favor. A liberal person doesn’t accumulate  wealth as a symbol but for security for his family and to benefit other people’s lives. That is why he is careful to give to the right person at the right time and for the right reasons. If his contribution is enabling bad behavior, it will be cut off since the waste pains him and there are others that can use the help.

So a prodigal errs in being pleased for the wrong reasons, especially in his spending. A miserly person falls short in giving yet he exceeds in taking. There are different motives in giving and taking that define particular habits of character in these areas. As we study them we will gain understanding on what to avoid ourselves since no one is exempt from dealing with them.

A prodigal doesn’t usually err in taking too much and so most of the time he ends up broke. A person who exhausts his substance with giving is the defining characteristic of a prodigal. He really has no better character than a miserly person and can be cured by either age or poverty. A prodigal already has the characteristic of giving similar to a liberal person. If he learns to earn properly, and to give to the right people, he will come out of it. That is why we don’t look down on this behavior as much. This person isn’t so much wicked as he is foolish. So he is looked at as someone better than a miser because at least his wasteful behavior benefits others. The miser can’t even benefit himself.

Most prodigal people receive recklessly from any source without honor. They do so to keep up their spending habits since their own means always runs short. This is not liberality because they could care less about doing what is right and noble. The people they make rich are those who should be poor and those who are respectable are despised. Flatterers especially benefit as do those who give them pleasure. They surround themselves with self-indulgent people since nobility means nothing and the focus is on pleasures.

As we said earlier ; a prodigal can be educated and come to his senses. But a miser is very difficult to change. Even with old age he may become worse. This seems to be a more common trait in people and it shows up in many ways. It is interesting that there are so many ways a person becomes possessive and so many motives behind it; Next time we will take a look.