Virtue

The traditional view of virtue explains a person’s sense of virtue to be like that of a face. The Greeks believe in 5 basic parts of virtue: piety, temperance, wisdom, courage, and justice. According to this traditional view, it is possible for an individual to possess one of these portions of virtue without having mastered all – or any – of the others. This further accentuates the differences between the 5 parts of human virtue. Socrates’ perspective of the alleged 5 aspects of virtue is one that is the polar opposite of this traditional view. He believes that a person in possession of at least one of these traits of virtue will be in possession of all of the others. Therefore, it is impossible for the traditional view to retain its credibility. Even if one possessed a strong manifestation of one particular kind of virtue, as this old view suggests, then they would be able to reallocate – or adapt – the qualities and attributes of that virtue to any and all of the others “parts” of virtue, as Socrates supposes. The manifestation of the traditional view point is a face, wherein one can demonstrate a supernatural or above average beauty or ability in certain areas, while lacking in others. Socrates’ manifestation for his take on the 5 “parts” of virtue is a bar of gold. He maintains that gold is gold is gold, just as virtue is virtue is virtue.

Socrates’ corroboration of his opinion on the “parts” of human virtue is one that is easily understood.