The Big Question: Plumcake Makes The World Substantially Better Edition
By PlumcakeInspired by the lovely and gorgeous (and married, which gives me some pause, but at least I have a reasonable expectation that he’s straight –caveat: he did go to Cambridge– and honestly that’s better than I normally do) comedian Mark Watson who is making The World Substantially Better over on BBC Radio 4, I’ve been thinking a lot about virtue.
In each episode Mark “Hatefully Not Married to Plumcake But Otherwise Probably Quite Nice” Watson tackles one of six virtues in an effort to make the world substantially better. I highly recommend listening to it, although I would caution readers to turn down the volume during the “Exemplum” theme tune because it is so catchy that after you’ve died, the worms eating your delicious squishy brains will be doing so humming that song.
Watson lists the six virtues as:
- courage
- patience
- generosity
- honesty
- diligence
- humility
Good list, but here’s today’s big question. What virtue would you add to that list, and what is the best example you’ve seen of that virtue recently?
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
One word: Integrity.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Actually Asatru (a Nordic polytheistic faith) has at its core the Nine Noble Virtues. (http://www.speakeasy.org/~barhelm/gak/noble.htm)
Courage
Truth
Honor
Fidelity
Discipline
Hospitality
Industriousness
Self-Reliance
Perseverance
Noble aims, indeed, for being a good person.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
restraint. There is too little of it in this world. Be it monetary “gotta have” items to emotions. My perfect restraint example is that the man who molested a little person I love is still alive. That took ALOT of restraint.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
A sense of humor. Without it, one could be a shining example of all the virtues listed above and still be a deadly bore.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Compassion. Clearly missing in this (American) administration. Sorry for the inclusion of politics but to me its a glaring omission and obvious example.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Forgiveness, in this world there’s alot to forgive.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Does love count as a virtue? I mean LOVE for everyone even the many, many, many unlovable people, not just love for the good, the family, the friends.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Empathy.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Joy. We seem so determined that if something is feels good, looks good, tastes good, or seems good in any way, it must be bad. I think joy in things is a virtue.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Awareness. Of self, of others; of consequences, of effects; of choices, of possibilities.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Creativity. There’s a virtue to not fitting in, but making one’s own path.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
respect for others
September 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I second Sabrina’s vote for integrity, and I see it every day in my husband. His word is his bond. That’s all too rare nowadays.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Charity. Definitely charity, in the classical sense. We all have issues and problems so never assume the worst of someone.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I think kindness is one of the most difficult to find. It may be wrapped up with compassion or charity or empathy in some ways.
Integrity is part of honesty, so for me it’s covered on the original list, but I will agree that it’s hard to find it.