Johnathan Bi Plato’s Guide to Virtue | Cornell’s Rachana Kamtekar
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Jul 5, 2025 Rachana Kamtekar, a Professor of Philosophy at Cornell, delves into the intricate world of virtue, drawing from Plato, Stoicism, and Indian philosophy. She highlights the profound differences between virtue and vice, and the impact of moral choices on the soul. The discussion covers the relationship between virtue and happiness, with insights from Aristotle and the Stoics. Kamtekar also explores modern implications of ancient ethics, emphasizing how understanding virtue can inform both personal development and societal values.
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Virtue Expression Amplified by Goods
- Plato and Aristotle agree happiness varies with the degree virtue is expressed.
- External goods enhance the scope and impact of virtuous actions.
Virtue: The Only Purely Good
- External goods without virtue can be misused and harm rather than help.
- Virtue is the only monotonic good; the more virtue, the better the life.
Virtue Enables Living Well
- Life necessities like air and food only sustain life, not a good life.
- Virtue is essential for living well beyond mere survival.