Virtues help shape our aspirations for what type of person we want to be. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word essay in which you: Discuss how cultivating a virtuous disposition may help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Discuss the concept of virtue and what it means to be a good person and have good moral character. Consider how being virtuous defines you. Examine your cultural ideas of virtues and how they compare with other cultures. Explain how your idea of being virtuous fits within a cultural context. Explain how your ideas fit within the idea of utilitarianism and individual or group happiness. Use examples from your own life and information from Ethics for Life: A Text with Readings, as well as two outside sources, to discuss the relationship between virtues and your success as a person.

Discussion 1: Choose one of the following two options to address in this discussion. Be sure that your initial post meets the full-length requirement of 300 words, and that you incorporate at least two of this week’s required resources in your post, one of which should be the textbook. Include citations and a full reference to your chosen sources. (See the Required Resources page for all references in APA format). Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review the following Required Resources: Chapters 1 and 2 of the textbookBody ritual among the NaciremaCorporate Anthropology: Michael Henderson at TEDxAuckland (Links to an external site.)Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story Check the Twitter feed for @AmericanAnthro (Links to an external site.) for any additional resource(s) you may find useful for this discussion. Option 1: Review the Corporate Anthropology: Michael Henderson at TEDxAuckland (Links to an external site.) video and read Body Ritual Among the Nacirema (Links to an external site.). Pretend that you are an anthropologist. Describe a typical day in the life of the Nacirema (remember that the Nacirema are Americans—Miner is describing us from an etic perspective).Describe your modern tribe (the people you spend most of your time with).What might someone from another culture find unusual about your daily routine, workplace (if relevant), and setting?How would a cultural outsider see your life? Is there anything she or he might find unusual or interesting that you see as normal and every day? Option 2: Review the TED Talk Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story (Links to an external site.), then Briefly describe the stories that you grew up with, whether these are from books, TV shows, movies, or another source.How did these stories influence your perceptions of yourself and of the world?Did you identify with the background of the main characters or were they from a different background than you?As an adult, what stories do you identify with now?How are these stories similar to and different from the ones you grew up with?Are there certain areas of the world or certain people about whom you only have a single story?How could you work to broaden your understanding of others? Discussion 2: You are required to post at least 150 total words in this forum this week. Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review this week’s readings, guidance, and announcements, including You’re Not Going to Believe What I’m About to Tell You (Links to an external site.). Reflect on what you found interesting, surprising, or confusing. Here we examine cultures and how they affect the way people do what they do. Sometimes, this will mean looking more closely at our own culture to understand how the different concepts we are reading about in the textbook apply to us. Some of the ideas we are going to talk about may conflict with your own beliefs, preconceptions, and ideas. Please resist the urge to respond with your preconceived ideas! Instead, try to look at the information as an anthropologist would. Look at the information in the textbook and other required resources. Consider why the other side might believe or act as they do. You do not have to agree with them—just try to understand their perspective. This discussion forum is an opportunity for you to explore topics that interest you, share critical insights and questions that you are working with, share your struggles and triumphs, and discuss difficulties that may have arisen this week. Your initial post should describe your experiences in the course this past week, prompting further discussion. Address at least two of the following questions: Was there anything that caused you to view the world around you differently or examine a topic from a different perspective?What struck you in particular as you explored the course materials this week?Do you have questions that your classmates might be able to help you with? (If you have a question for the instructor, be sure to contact your instructor via email).Review You’re Not Going to Believe What I’m About to Tell You (Links to an external site.) and consider the material you examined for this week’s discussion. What information did you encounter this week that caused mental friction for you? Why do you think it caused mental friction? Were you able to overcome the backfire effect?