Other Cultures, Other Virtues

AGENDA

1. The big picture
2. Aristotle (makeup class)
3. Joseph Marshall, Lakota virtues

LOGISTICS

1. Presentations
2. Reading responses
3. Monday: Epictetus -- you need the book from SMU bookstore

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The big picture

1. What is the good life?
2. What makes a life go well
3. What ultimate matters
4. Later...meaning

Module 2: the virtue-centered life

1. Aristotle, ancient Greece
2. Joseph Marshall -- Lakota virtues
3. Epictetus -- Stoicism -- ancient Roman
4. Peter Singer -- contemporary philosopher

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Aristotle recap

supreme good = happiness = fulfilling our proper function = living virtuously (with some external goods)

1. External goods
• What are the external goods we need?
• Do we really need them?  Epictetus
2. The virtues
• what is virtue?
• what are the virtues?

Paragon of virtue (who?)

An interesting virtue --

• Truthfulness about your strengths -- don't boast, but don't downplay
• Not the same as general honesty

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Contrast with Aristotle, particularly on truthfulness

• Joseph Marshall, The Lakota Way
• Lakota people  -- Native Americans -- current lands in North and South Dakota
• Lakota virtues -- humility,, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom

• 

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Chapter 1: Humility (here)

• Paragon of virtue: No Moccasins
• She lives "before the coming of the horses--before 1700" (p. 1)
• How Marshall sets the scene (p. 2) -- last paragraph (read)
• What's the story?
• "The people in No Moccasins' village honored her for her humility rather than for the courageous deeds she performed as a young woman." (p. 18)

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"Quiet path"s section: The eagle feathers puzzle

• eagle feathers used to display accomplishments
• the Waktoglaka ceremony
• Seems like a contradiction (this is the puzzle)

1. humility and quiet as the greatest Lakota virtue
2. cultural acceptance of  eagle feathers

• How does Marshall resolve this apparent contradiction?
• How does he say about Crazy Horse, a Lakota hero?

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Contrast with Aristotle

• humility not on Aristotle's list
• modesty involves hiding something you're ashamed of--not a virtue -- virtuous people have nothing to be ashamed of!
• No Moccasins has a deficiency in the area of truthfulness-- a vice!
• Communicating your accomplishments with eagle feathers is virtuous

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PRESENTATIONS

• Canvas
• Virtue group could (choose just one)
• Experiment with Aristotle's ethics
• Experiment with Lakota virtues--be quiet and humble!
• Experiment with Stoicism -- see next reading
• Experiment with Peter Singer's ethics 
• Tell me preferences using preference assignment

READING RESPONSES

• Read the question carefully!
• Read the requirements carefully!
• Make sure you provide page or paragraph numbers if they're requested
• Do the reading first!
• You can drop three grades in group 1 (RR1-10). I've removed the no-dropping rule on RR2 and RR3.