Tag Archives: Religion

Character 9: Let’s Talk About Ethics and Sex

8. Compare the impact of the socially unacceptable sexual practices of Bayard Rustin and George Eliot. Where does Brooks draw a line and judge their behavior? What values and standards is he using to make his conclusions? I know I’ve been religious, and stodgy, and old-fashioned for a solid seven questions here. I’ve been aContinueContinue reading “Character 9: Let’s Talk About Ethics and Sex”

Character 8: Do You Have a Responsibility to Become More Moral Over Time?

7. John Stuart Mill said that people had a responsibility to become more moral over time. Do you believe this? Does this apply to societies as well as individuals? I believe an individual’s life is less circular than a society’s-that while we definitely have setbacks, an individual’s life is generally more straightforward. Even if youContinueContinue reading “Character 8: Do You Have a Responsibility to Become More Moral Over Time?”

Character 7: A Morally Inarticulate Society

6. Brooks states that the Victorians were inarticulate about sex and we are inarticulate about morality – that we have lost our moral vocabularly. What are the consequences of being morally inarticulate? Let me pause for a moment to introduce you to my friend Dragon, who figures rather prominently in this Road to Character series,ContinueContinue reading “Character 7: A Morally Inarticulate Society”

Character 6: Do You Have Faith in Institutions?

5. Do you believe in the importance of instititions to society? Do you believe in devoting considerable personal time and resources to institutions that will outlive you? Think about churches, patriotism, schools, etc. My good friend Dragon feels strongly about supporting people. About inspiring others to pay it forward. We both have a strong networkContinueContinue reading “Character 6: Do You Have Faith in Institutions?”

Character 5: Do You Know You’re Right When You Feel Good About Yourself?

4. Do you believe your personal feelings are the best indicator for what is right and wrong? Do you believe that you know you’re doing the right thing when you feel good inside about it? Are a set of stable, external values and expectations necessary in life? I think that it’s a slippery slope toContinueContinue reading “Character 5: Do You Know You’re Right When You Feel Good About Yourself?”

Character 4: The Downside of a Meritocracy

3. How does the modern, high-pressure meritocracy impact the search for human meaning? How does the pressure to “make something of yourself” damage your ability to cultivate the eulogy virtues? As a society, we’ve bought into the idea of a meritocracy: that nowadays in America we rise according to what we’ve earned, what we’ve merited.ContinueContinue reading “Character 4: The Downside of a Meritocracy”

Character 3: Resume Virtues vs. Eulogy Virtues

2. When are the resume virtues – the characteristics you would use to describe yourself in the job market such as “team player” and “punctual” – more important than the eulogy virtues – the characteristics such as “loyal” and “family-oriented” that might be used to desribe you at your funeral? Are they in conflict inContinueContinue reading “Character 3: Resume Virtues vs. Eulogy Virtues”