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Virtue- Part 2
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘virtue’ as a behavior showing high
standard morals. The definition is that of a common noun and is accompanied by two other noun
definitions. The use of ‘virtue’ by the Christian Catholic church in the past has derived its
meaning from the Latin word virtus. The Latin founders of the Catholic Church initially used the
word in its direct translation to mean a “man’s chief quality of fortitude.” The word was used by
theologians and philosophers in the early Catholic Church to refer to the perfection of human
behavior and the human soul in practice of the teachings of the Bible.
In the attempt to define ethics, Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, held that virtues
are habits of good conduct and a life of mindless routine. Aristotle used hexis to denote virtue. In
Greek translation, ‘hexis’ is an active state of practicing actions seen as right. According to the
philosopher, virtue, therefore, is manifested through actions. His interpretation of virtue in ethics
was based on habits of people. He defines the noble men as those containing habits that not only
please a society but also count as pleasing to humankind. He implies that mean people are the
exact opposite of the noble and that virtues should not be confused with values imparted to the
young by the society.
Looking at the different definitions of virtue by diverse sources, it is safe to conclude that
they all point towards a common direction: morals. My understanding of virtue from the reading
brings to attention the need for linking virtues with the morals defined in a society. A virtue

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cannot be defined across all nations and communities. Different communities hold different
opinions on what counts as ‘standard morals.’ Virtue, therefore, is the adherence of a person’s
behavior to a moral code that is set by the environment in which he or she lives. A virtue is
defined by each localized society by its view of morality.

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Virtue- Part 1
The word obtained from the cartoon, The Oatmeal and Zadie Smith’s Joy is ‘virtue.’ The
Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘virtue’ as a behavior showing high standard morals
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2017). The use of the word has been different in different contexts.
In history, different institutions and philosophers have provided diverse definitions and use of the
word in an attempt to define and guide ethics in the society. The uses of ‘virtue’ in different
societies have presented differing opinions and views. The diverse uses, however, point towards
a common understanding of the word. The word ‘virtue’ has been used by different p...