explain why.
2007-08-15 01:38:04 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I believe that all other good things flow from honesty. Not only telling the truth and behaving with integrity, but being honest with and about oneself. While I believe that honesty is the basis for other virtues, it does not guarantee them.
As for Love, it means many things to different people. This culture tends to have a pretty screwy notion of love, one that I don;t think is especially healthy.
Humility and pride in balance are a good thing-- true humility in my opinion involves honesty and in seeing ourselves--both our shortcomings and our gifts--clearly.
I'm not sure what you mean by purity, but if you mean sexual chastity, I do not think abstaining is an especially
important value-- I think our culture narrowly defines the ways we can acceptably be close to one another and care for one another in intimate ways, and this limits our capacity for love. If you mean sexual fidelity, this works for many people while for others it is not important. I don;t think it has much to do with a successful life. An honest person will not make promises about sexual fidelity that they aren't willing and able to keep.
Faith is nothing without actions to back it up. Waiting for someone or something else to fix things does not work, obviously. Look at the mess the world is in. Good works are fine as long as they *are* good works. Many of the most horrible situations in human history stem from people thinking they know what is best for others.
So, what makes a successful life-- we're back to honesty, it seems.... In order to have a successful life, each person needs to know what that means to them.
2007-08-15 02:24:57 · answer #1 · answered by Ms. Switch 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"... For what end should a man live? By what fundamental principle should he act in order to achieve this end? Who should profit from his actions? The answers to these questions define the ultimate value, the primary virtue, and the particular beneficiary upheld by an ethical code and reveal thereby its essence.
"The Objectivist position can be indicated in three words. The ultimate value is life. The primary virtue is rationality. The proper beneficiary is oneself." [Ayn Rand]
The opposite is true for the ethics of Altruism - selflessness - which has brought us all religions, socialism, fascism, communism etc...
2007-08-15 04:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Wizard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends, I think first one must define 'Succsesful life'.
I'll assume you mean success with money, fame and lifestyle.
So I pick "None of the above".
The key value to lead a succesful life is Pragmatism. If you think this is a virtue, vice or niether is up for interpretation, however it is pragmatism that allows true success.
Pragmatism produced Reagen, Stalin, Bush Jr., John Howard, Bush Snr., And every other elected leader you can think of (Yes, Stalin was elected!)
2007-08-15 01:47:26 · answer #3 · answered by shadowrench 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The greatest of all these is Love.... because true unconditional love for all brings humility, purity, honesty, faith and good works......
2007-08-15 01:42:14 · answer #4 · answered by Freedspirit 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say love because from love all things spring forth. You do all of the others or behave according to all the others because of love. Not to say that the others are not absolutely essential, but that is to say that they come secondary to love simply because they stem from love in some form.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I Cor. 13:13
2007-08-15 01:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by The Shadow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honesty of course.
I love my wife, scrambled eggs and coffee - that doesn't make me successful.
Humility means no-one notices me.
Purity means I can be boring sometimes.
Faith means I am true to my religion, but that doesn't bring me success.
Good works can be done for self-interested reasons.
No - it's honesty. If you are honest with people they will respect you, trust you and be your true friends.
If you are honest with them, they will give you love.
If you are honest, you will know you can always improve - this is humility.
If you are honest, you will not stray into wrong-doing - purity.
If you are honest to yourself, you will be faithful to your religion.
2007-08-15 01:52:23 · answer #6 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
either love or humility.
as someone else said, real love for everyone would bring all of these things.
but at the same time, humility would give you everything as well.
and besides, how many peope really and truly love everyone?
not many...
2007-08-15 01:46:47 · answer #7 · answered by (Linzee18) 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hello,
fruits of the spirit...
love , joy , peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperence, virtue,
the greatest of these is love and above all else there is no law.
what greater thing could a person feel , express want or need to give than love?
2007-08-15 01:50:09 · answer #8 · answered by piscean_psychic7 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Love. Because?? I Don't Know Why.
2007-08-15 01:43:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good works.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~~Matthew 5:16
2007-08-15 01:50:24 · answer #10 · answered by Beach Saint 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋