I recently began work on a project that will lead to one of the most ambitious and extraordinary journeys in history. What is it? Everything in due time. I mention it now only because it will highlight “normal virtues.”
I have a worldview that revolves around what is normal for humanity under natural conditions, setting up a contrast between “natural humanity” and “civilized humanity.” Akin to poetic license, I’ve taken philosophical license to set up a few conceptual meanings under this worldview. I’ve introduced the concept of “right” to mean how a species is meant to behave; “normally right” is how most of us are meant to behave under natural conditions. I’ve introduced the concept of “good” to mean something that benefits; “normally good” is what benefits most of us under natural conditions.
Right and good do not always go together. Self-absorbed behavior such as greed may provide a “good” effect for the individual but is not “right” in terms of overall species health. Punishment may be “right” in an overall social context, but does not produce “good” for the punished individual.
Fortunately, most things naturally are both “right” and “good” for most of us. Certainly we all think it is “good” to be happy. The same things that make us happy also make us healthy, they help us survive and continue as a species. Good diet, exercise, leisure and community are “right” as well as “good.”
Developing my own conceptual worldview a little further, something both “right” and “good,” such as the natural ingredients that contribute to both health and happiness, is a virtue. Normal virtues are what is both right and good for most of humanity under natural conditions. Community and kindness are normal virtues. The next series of posts will further develop these normal virtues, which will be so important for the upcoming journey planned.
