I appreciate how you root the idea of virtue in its original etymology—literally “man”—and use that to argue moral excellence is what separates us from “lowly beasts.”
But what really resonates is the idea that virtue is never automatic; it requires choice and conscious practice. True virtue emerges when we strive to be better, not when we yield to base impulses.
I also like how you move beyond standard definitions to highlight the social dimension of virtue. Gaelic cliù, for instance, captures how reputation and communal respect lead towards group cohesion. Combined with the Roman pietas for family and nation, it underscores that virtue is not a solo pursuit but a framework for collective well-being, rooted in shared identity and reciprocity.
"The investigation of words is the beginning of education". I especially like cliu, which is new to me. I might take issue with the idea that "white men...seek virtue for virtues sake"; I think this misorders the relation. Surely white (European) men are invested with a kind of talent or potential that is particular to them, and which is conducive to the pursuit of virtue, but I think that by its nature virtue, being born of choice, cannot have no direct relation to inheritance. Blood is the condition under which virtue must develop, so can be more or less propitious, but virtue is a spiritual inheritance which divides a race by quality. Would it be better to say that "white men are uniquely invested to seek virtue for virtues sake"? It may also be true that European men are uniquely tasked (by the gods?) to seek virtue for virtues sake, but in either case no inevitable function is supposed- which is why the West is what it is now, and why so many will fall by the wayside.
I appreciate the comment and constructive criticism. I would probably agree with the final thought, that it comes from a divine source. Obviously, not all of us seek virtue, and even less of us can actualize it daily, but there appears to be a marked capacity for living this way among Europeans. I tried to write about this in my article "Anabasis to Arete" but it's a hard concept to pin down. It seems like different civilizations reach for different ideal heights. What is our ideal height that we are reaching for? What is the noble ideal that rests at the top of our minds? What are all these virtues creating, in the end? This is what lingers in my mind.
I'll earmark that piece to read. I suppose that the ideal is a vision, and like all high visions cannot be encapsulated but only shadowed by art and intimated in the direction of our efforts. A similar preoccupation has driven what I am doing. It may be impossible to hold up the ideal as an "goal", but we can make a tribute to it by expressing its pattern in small ways, and so both honour it and draw closer to its realisation.
Thanks again for your support for what I have been giving out. It's been a slow start and I've been grateful to have at least one person express some enthusiasm- maybe it's the primordial affinity of Celts?
Getting new 'stacks off the ground can be a long process. It took me over five months to start getting consistent interaction on posts, and then I hit my height right before Trump got in, then things started to slow down.
I noticed I got more interaction on posts when I "reply guy'ed" meaning I commented on notes and posts related to my ideas with links to my posts, getting in arguments (which makes people who agree with you look into your stack), defending people I agreed with which builds friends, etc etc. I got tired of this though and stopped. This route will snag you active subs though, it makes you more public.
I appreciate how you root the idea of virtue in its original etymology—literally “man”—and use that to argue moral excellence is what separates us from “lowly beasts.”
But what really resonates is the idea that virtue is never automatic; it requires choice and conscious practice. True virtue emerges when we strive to be better, not when we yield to base impulses.
I also like how you move beyond standard definitions to highlight the social dimension of virtue. Gaelic cliù, for instance, captures how reputation and communal respect lead towards group cohesion. Combined with the Roman pietas for family and nation, it underscores that virtue is not a solo pursuit but a framework for collective well-being, rooted in shared identity and reciprocity.
Great article.
thank you, sir
"The investigation of words is the beginning of education". I especially like cliu, which is new to me. I might take issue with the idea that "white men...seek virtue for virtues sake"; I think this misorders the relation. Surely white (European) men are invested with a kind of talent or potential that is particular to them, and which is conducive to the pursuit of virtue, but I think that by its nature virtue, being born of choice, cannot have no direct relation to inheritance. Blood is the condition under which virtue must develop, so can be more or less propitious, but virtue is a spiritual inheritance which divides a race by quality. Would it be better to say that "white men are uniquely invested to seek virtue for virtues sake"? It may also be true that European men are uniquely tasked (by the gods?) to seek virtue for virtues sake, but in either case no inevitable function is supposed- which is why the West is what it is now, and why so many will fall by the wayside.
Good essay.
Do you recall where that quote is from?
I appreciate the comment and constructive criticism. I would probably agree with the final thought, that it comes from a divine source. Obviously, not all of us seek virtue, and even less of us can actualize it daily, but there appears to be a marked capacity for living this way among Europeans. I tried to write about this in my article "Anabasis to Arete" but it's a hard concept to pin down. It seems like different civilizations reach for different ideal heights. What is our ideal height that we are reaching for? What is the noble ideal that rests at the top of our minds? What are all these virtues creating, in the end? This is what lingers in my mind.
It's Anisthenes I think.
I'll earmark that piece to read. I suppose that the ideal is a vision, and like all high visions cannot be encapsulated but only shadowed by art and intimated in the direction of our efforts. A similar preoccupation has driven what I am doing. It may be impossible to hold up the ideal as an "goal", but we can make a tribute to it by expressing its pattern in small ways, and so both honour it and draw closer to its realisation.
Thanks again for your support for what I have been giving out. It's been a slow start and I've been grateful to have at least one person express some enthusiasm- maybe it's the primordial affinity of Celts?
Getting new 'stacks off the ground can be a long process. It took me over five months to start getting consistent interaction on posts, and then I hit my height right before Trump got in, then things started to slow down.
I noticed I got more interaction on posts when I "reply guy'ed" meaning I commented on notes and posts related to my ideas with links to my posts, getting in arguments (which makes people who agree with you look into your stack), defending people I agreed with which builds friends, etc etc. I got tired of this though and stopped. This route will snag you active subs though, it makes you more public.