Well, it appears that there is some debate concerning the foundation of all the other virtues.
Cicero and Saint Augustine, eh?
Pretty big names.
I’ll stick with courage as the foundation.
Most people think that courage is only physical courage. They think that courage is defined by charging the machine gun or rushing into the burning building to save someone.
Courage is also telling the boss in a meeting that his idea won’t work.
Courage is not buying the vodka after you didn’t get the promotion.
Courage is “to thy self be true”.
Gratitude and humility are certainly important, but I think you have to have courage to have those virtues. As a matter of fact, I don’t see how you could possibly have those virtues without first having courage.
Thank you for your input.
It caused me to examine my thoughts on this matter, and that is always a good thing.
Aristotle and Aquinas most prominently, and many others in addition, note that you can’t actually have one virtue without having all of the others. One may have personal inclinations and talents, but they aren’t developed as virtues without the other virtures being developed proportionately. Without knowing whether and how something ought to be done (requiring justice and prudence), an irascible appetite, be it strong our weak, is rather at sea.