Is there a primary virtue? If so what is it?

Question

by primary I mean coming first... i.e. it is the source of the other virtues

stormin... the ability to recognize virtue is rather universal. if you have a different 'moral code' as you put it.. well then maybe you would answer the question differently... but that is the point of the question. not that there is one correct answer but to see how a different perspective might give a different answer to the same question. thanks.

Answer 1

Truth .

Answer 2

Rectitude - the disposition to do what's right. That's a required virtue in any moral system.

Btw, the source of virtues is not virtue, that's circular - the source of virtues is shared values, shared goals. To have a virtue is to be a member of a group of some kind (e.g., a village or city-state) and to have a disposition to behave in a way that will help to achieve the shared goals of that group.

Answer 3

What is Virtue? If by this you mean a moral code that is used to govern behavior, then it must follow that everyone agrees with what you deem to be appropriate and inappropriate. Since that is in all likelihood impossible, you need to refine your question.
As for myself, I believe that all virtue stems from LOVE. Love of self, love of God, love of others. What more is there?

Answer 4

According to Plato, Menon asked Socrates, "What is virtue?" Socrates answered that he didn't know, and furthermore, did not know anyone who did know. So, in turn, Socrates asked Menon, "What do you think virtue is?" Menon named thrift, honesty, kindness, and a few other things. Socrates admonished him not to give him virtue in bits and pieces like change, but the whole. To paraphrase only slightly, Socrates asked, "How do you know that each of these things is a virtue unless you know what virtue is in itself?"

Socrates recognized the logical necessity of validating the claim of a virtue by reference to the whole, to virtue itself. What he was looking for was a definition of the term virtue, its identity. Socrates and Menon began arguments in search of the meaning of the term virtue. The arguments went on and on without success. Finally, Socrates admitted failure and concluded that whatever virtue is, it must come to us by "divine dispensation".

Here is more:
http://www.wepin.com/store/books/MindMatters/X.htm

In my opinion, the primary virtue (as you have phrased), has to be used in this context: "the end justifies the means" or "the result justifies the deed" or "anything is acceptable if it leads to a successful result." And I would further qualify it by adding "as accepted by the majority" since one might only consider his own interest.

So here it is:
[Primary] Virtue is defined as: "the deed whose result is justified, and further accepted by the majority."

Answer 5

Love is the primary virtue. With it, it will give you patience, understanding, kindness, generosity, etc.

Answer 6

Patience. Without it all other virtues would be hard to achieve and sustain.

Answer 7

Awareness. If one can reach full awareness they will always know what is and what isn't. Therefore, they will know and will want to act with full moral and practical correctness.