Previously: "Virtue is excellence and perfection, just as vice, its contrary, denotes a defect or absence of perfection. In its strictest meaning, however, as used by moral philosophers and theologians, virtue signifies a habit super-added to a faculty of the soul, disposing it to elicit with readiness acts conformable to our rational nature." (excerpt, MooPig Wisdom, June 9, 2009; HERE)
Tornado Proofing our Family Structures with Virtue
by Pat Darnell
It occurs in many families throughout the land, an explosion of tempers, that is remembered by siblings and parents. Usually this expository of emotion relieves no one, and whatever the real issues were, are forgotten. A tornado flits by, lifts the roof from the rafters, tussles the household; then it is over.
Have I considered path of man from child to man and woman in this manner? Yes. We understand this: we come to an understanding first with our family persons that we do not understand each other... whoever we are. Why?
Most of my life I enjoyed fat breakfast every morn, a fabulous book to read, and blessing of work every day. I have had hard days, and hard day's nights. By the grace of God I survived. What I did not experience has been explained to me with freedom of word and deed. My entire family is surviving still all around.
Do I believe Families provide a chance for young ones to learn virtues, simply by teaching the opposites of those characteristics? Yes I do, but how?
For instance, where else can a child learn bribery, graft, usurpation, avarice or jealousy, bargaining, pecking order, time-wasters, and blundering. A child learns early these torments, and how others deal with them, where else but in their family of siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and pets. As above: "a habit super-added to a faculty of the soul, disposing it to elicit with readiness acts conformable to our rational nature."
For me that little definition implies that family life -- no matter how virtuous or not -- is rational. Also, how can one depart from one's soul, and not seek virtues in the presence of one's own family members?
Sure, rationally, one can choose to read virtues and contrary themes in Shakespeare, or listen to music describe remnants of life -- life as work, life as eating, life as sleeping -- and of course birth and death.
No infant I know can read at her age of one year. That cancels out Shakespeare as a source reference for Baby's dealing with her litter of siblings, cousins, parents and their own siblings.... right?
You bet that is right. By age five it is said children have locked in what each's personality will be. It has to do with birth order, genetic arrangements and the condition of their domicile. No other frame of reference is used that magically dominates a child's condition.
Looking around, but of course, I find no first-person narrative has ever been written from the first five years of infancy point-of-view. Not even the first five years of infant Jesus's life is written in a first person guide to aid in our development as virtuous family members. However, later Jesus did ask his followers to receive His faith in His next of kin -- God the Father... eh? [Thanks to Garnetgurl]
Like some cultures, we also could consider children of infancy are absolutely in their own communion with the universe. Virtue, and its contradictions, is born there, in the secret language of infants, and practiced later in families.
I realize this is a monster assumption, on many levels, and looks like a conspiracy. My frame of reference comes from observing my six children I have been given. I don't apologize for being a lifetime learner. And, between you and me, I assume that anyone who finds this interesting, will transcend my belief and prove someday where virtue really does spawn. If only some how we at last apply virtues, for which there is no law against, in our lives as family members.
Frankly, there can be no harm in exploring possibilities of tornado proofing our houses with virtues purchased and forwarded by our ancestry; and should we invite an elephant into our Living Room, we should at least discuss it's presence there... no?
