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”
Tag Archives: The Road to Character
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”
Character 2: Moral Romanticism vs Moral Realism
1. Are you a moral romantic, who believes in human goodness and the ability of the individual to discern good from evil based on their internal compass, or a moral realist, who relies on an understanding of humans as fundamentally flawed with a penchant for sin? Do you have to believe in one view orContinueContinue reading “Character 2: Moral Romanticism vs Moral Realism”
The Road to Character by David Brooks 1: Intro and Book Club Questions
There’s a book that I was introduced to at a church book club nearly two years ago that has really stayed with me. It’s called The Road to Character by David Brooks. He’s a NY Time op-editor, PBS NewsHour Friday commentator, NPR Newshour contributor, etc. A talking head, but a seriously thoughtful talking head. ThisContinueContinue reading “The Road to Character by David Brooks 1: Intro and Book Club Questions”
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