Objectivism 101

Diana Mertz Hsieh

Lecture Four: The Virtues

Wednesday, July 3, 2002

13th Annual Summer Seminar

of

The Objectivist Center

Objectivism 101 Schedule1. Sunday Philosophy

2. Monday Reality and Reason

3. Tuesday Life and Happiness

4. Wednesday The Virtues

5. Thursday Individual Rights

6. Friday Spiritual Fuel

The Nature of Virtues Virtues are actions by which we gain and/or

keep our values

Virtues are commitments, in thought and action, to the types of actions required to achieve rational moral values

The Eight Major Virtues Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Benevolence Integrity Pride

1: Rationality Rationality is the commitment to objectively

grasping and acting on the facts of reality

Rationality requires a commitment to…– The facts of reality– Full conscious awareness– The method of objectivity

…at all times, in all areas of life

Rationality in Action Rationality is the commitment to objectively

grasping and acting on the facts of reality

Example One: While at the emergency room, the doctor asks you to hold your young child down during a painful procedure in which keeping still is of the utmost importance.

Example Two: A large and out-of-control forest fire is headed towards your neighborhood. The county sheriff recommends that residents prepare for evacuation.

2: Productiveness Productiveness is the commitment to achieving

the values that sustain your life

Productiveness means…– Creating values– Trading with others

Not mindless drudgery, not mooching or looting from others

Productiveness in Action Productiveness is the commitment to achieving

the values that sustain your life

Example One: You are studying hard for finals when a friend asks if you want to go to the last showing of a movie you’ve been wanting to see.

Example Two: You are just getting started in your work as a freelance programmer. A potential client offers you a job that will get your work noticed, although the pay will be low.

3: Independence Independence is the commitment to forming and

acting upon your own judgments

Two forms of independence:– Independence in thought– Independence in action

Independence in Action Independence is the commitment to forming and

acting upon your own judgments and living by your own mind

Example One: Two of your friends are urging you to break up with your new boyfriend, but only offer vague reasons.

Example Two: You see a doctor about your allergic reaction to certain foods. He recommends certain drug as treatment.

4: Honesty Honesty is the refusal to fake the facts of reality

Two forms of honesty:– Honesty with oneself– Honesty with others

Honesty in Action Honesty is the refusal to fake the facts of reality

Example One: Your hot-tempered boyfriend blows up during an argument and punches you. He then becomes very apologetic, promising that he will never hit you again.

Example Two: The office gossip pesters you incessantly for details of your horrible date last night, which you do not want to discuss.

5: Justice Justice is the virtue of evaluating others

objectively and acting accordingly

Two aspects of justice:– Objective judgment of others– Acting based on those judgments

A failure to judge others only encourages evil

Justice in Action Justice is the virtue of evaluating others

objectively and acting accordingly

Example One: Your friend Jane is in a feud with a mutual acquaintance, Jack. Jane wants you to disassociate yourself from Jack out of loyalty to her.

Example Two: You just caught your wife cheating on you for the first time. She is begging you for another chance.

6: Benevolence Benevolence is the commitment to treating

other people as potential trading partners

Three aspects of benevolence:– Civility– Sensitivity– Generosity

Benevolence in Action Benevolence is the commitment to treating

other people as potential trading partners

Example One: You return to the TOC Summer Seminar in the upcoming years. You hang out with your friends from 2002, but you are also introduced to many new people each year.

Example Two: A pedestrian gets struck by a car near where you are walking. She is obviously seriously injured, but still alive.

7: Integrity Integrity is the commitment to acting in

accordance with long-range values and moral principles

Integrity requires us:– To think past short-term gains to long-range

consequences– To pursue and defend our values in face of

opposition

Integrity is the virtue of acting on virtue

Integrity in Action Integrity is the commitment to acting in

accordance with long-range values and moral principles

Example One: Your mother asks you to convince your sister to dump her new boyfriend because he is black.

Example Two: Your boss offers you a promotion if you can find a way to weasel out of a contract without paying the pre-arranged penalties.

8: Pride Pride is the commitment to one’s own moral

perfection (moral ambitiousness)

Pride requires us to hold ourselves up the the highest moral standard– Recognize and remedy your moral failures– Recognize your moral successes

“…as man is a being of self-made wealth, so he is a being of self-made soul…”

Pride in Action Pride is the commitment to one’s own moral

perfection

Example One: You forgot to meet a friend for a planned lunch. She’s mad at you for standing her up.

Example Two: You realize that you haven’t been very productive at work in the past few weeks.

The Eight Major Virtues Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Benevolence Integrity Pride

Today’s Topics Virtue Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Benevolence Integrity Pride