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Character: What Aristotle Would Say to a DI MCRD, San Diego March 8, 2000 Lawrence M. Hinman University of San Diego [email protected] Overview Introduction Two Approaches to Ethics Benefits of the Character Approach Characteristics of Virtue Courage Self-Control The Wise Rifleman 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 2 Aristotle Teacher of Alexander the Great Set the terms of the discussion for 2,000+ years in logic, biology, rhetoric, and physics. Familiar with the military and the politics – Wrote the constitution of Athens – Athens often threatened by neighboring city-states 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 3 Two Approaches to Ethics: Rules and Character Rule-based Approaches: Develop a set of rules that will cover all eventualities Character-based Approaches: Develop a fundamental character that is able to respond appropriately to new and difficult situations 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 4 The dream: a moral calculus The Rule Approach A Moral Calculus – Take a general principle – Feed in the facts about the actual situation – Turn the crank – Find out what the right thing to do is. If the method works, it eliminates moral disagreement and relativism by providing a universal decision procedure. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 5 Problems with the Rule Approach Two problems: – Philosophers and others couldn’t decide on the basic principles • Consequences, intentions, duty – Everyone found that the principles could be applied in more than one way • Analogy: dealing with ethical issues is more like dealing with engineering problem 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 6 Character Recognizing the importance of character helps to solve these problems – Character provides the foundation for good judgment, which is the ability to apply rules well – The person of good character knows when and how to apply the rules. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 7 Character and Human Flourishing Virtues, or strengths of character, are necessary for human flourishing. Suggests morality as internal instead of external Suggests morality as positive instead of negative 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 8 Combining Character and Rules – Rules and character not mutually exclusive – Analogy: American judicial system – Character without rules is erratic, unpredictable – Rules without character are often misapplied 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 9 Rules, Character, and the Corps The Marine Corps emphasizes both – A clear sense of well-defined rules that must be obeyed – The flexibility to respond quickly and effectively to new situations--e.g., urban guerilla fighting 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 10 Benefits of the Character Approach Discipline, in and out of uniform – Character is part of who you are Faster decision making – Doing the right thing becomes “second nature” Dealing with new situations – Increasingly necessary in today’s world 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 11 Characteristics of Virtue Habit Excellence (arete) Necessary to a happy life The Golden Mean between excess and deficiency 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 12 Marine Corps training seeks to mold character, to ingrain virtues such as honor and courage and selflessness into habits of character Habit – Basic training, the Crucible Aristotle: habit is only learned through constant repetition. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 13 Excellence The Greek word for virtue, arete, is also the word for excellence Virtue always involves doing your best in your particular role 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 14 Character and the Golden Mean Strength of character, Aristotle suggests, involves finding the proper balance between two extremes. Not mediocrity See example of courage 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 15 Virtues and Spheres of Existence Sphere of Existence Attitude toward self Deficiency Servility Self-deprecation Attitude toward Laziness goals in life Ignoring them Attitude toward offenses of others Being a Doormat Attitude toward good deeds of others Suspicion Envy Ignoring them Indifference Attitude toward our own offenses Remorselessness Downplaying Attitude toward our friends 5/22/2017 Indifference Mean Excess Proper Self-Love Proper Pride Self-Respect Arrogance Conceit Egoism Vanity Narcissism Perseverance Obsession Anger Forgiveness Understanding Gratitude Admiration Revenge Grudge Resentment Over indebtedness Agent Regret Remorse Making Amends Self-Forgiveness Loyalty Toxic Guilt Scrupulosity Shame ©Lawrence M. Hinman Obsequiousness 16 Spheres of Existence--2 Attitude toward our own good deeds Belittling Disappointment Sense of Accomplishment Humility Selfrighteousness Attitude toward the suffering of others Attitude toward the achievements of others Attitude toward death and danger Attitude toward our own desires Attitude toward other people Callousness Compassion Self-satisfaction Complacency Competition Cowardice Admiration Emulation Pity “Bleeding Heart” Envy Courage Foolhardiness Anhedonia Temperance Moderation Respect Lust Gluttony Deferentiality 5/22/2017 Exploitation ©Lawrence M. Hinman 17 Courage Excess and Deficiency Genuine courage is a mean between two extremes Too little: cowardice Too much: – Excessive self-confidence – Blind to real danger – Risks too much for too little 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 18 The Unity of the Virtues Aristotle: To have any single strength of character in full measure, a person must have the other ones as well. – Courage requires good judgment, perseverance, strength of will, justice, etc. – Without these other virtues, courage can go astray—for example, being courageous when one should be patient. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 19 Self-Control “Self-control is a crucial value for all Marines to develop. It requires discipline, patience, self-understanding and a willing deference to others and the greater good. In a hectic world where so many things are beyond our control, self-control provides personal balance and a firm anchor of peace.” Semper Fidelis, C. C. Krulak, 1996 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 20 Self-Control on the Battlefield “The battlefield is chaotic and deadly, and it is on the battlefield that we hold the responsibility of enormous destructive power in our hands. There, most of all, self-control is the premier ethical virtue.” Semper Fidelis, C. C. Krulak, 1996 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 21 Two Types of Self-Control: Continence and Temperance The continent person: has unruly desires, but keeps them under control – Example: the sober person who always wants to drink but doesn’t The temperate person: has rightlyordered desires, wants the right things. – Example: the sober person who just doesn’t like drinking a lot 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 22 True Courage Courage is the ability to persevere in the face of your fears. It has several components: – Strength of will--guts – Knowing what is worth taking risks for – Knowing how great the risks really are – Knowing how great your abilities really are. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 23 Cowardice The cowardly person: May not know what is worth taking risks for; May over-estimate how dangerous a situation is; May underestimate his own abilities; or, finally, May just lack strength of will, guts. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 24 White Letter No. 3-98 Marines will be fighting the “three block war” “How do you impart to a 19 year old the intelligence, the tactical skills, the decision making ability--both tactical and moral--to know when to fire and when to protect? When to employ supporting arms in an urban slum and when not to?” C. C. Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corp 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 25 Courage and Self-Sacrifice Aristotle …the virtuous person labors for his friends and his native country, and will die for them if he must…he will choose a single fine and great action over many small actions…the one who dies for others chooses something great and fine for himself. (1169a) The Marines "There is yet another element…that defines Marines, and that is selflessness: a spirit that places the self-interest of the individual second to that of the institution. That selflessness is stronger nowhere in American society than among Marines." FMFM 1-0. 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 26 Courage Excess Mean Deficiency Underestimates actual danger Correctly estimates actual danger Overestimates actual danger Overestimates own ability Correctly estimates own ability Underestimates own ability Undervalues means, what is being placed at risk Overvalues goal, what the risk is being taken for Properly values means that are being put at risk 5/22/2017 Overvalues the means, what is being placed at risk Properly values goal that Undervalues goal, what is being sought the risk would be taken for ©Lawrence M. Hinman 27 The Wise Rifleman Aristotle: – The clever man knows the best means to any end; – The wise man knows what ends are worth striving for. “Very self-reliant, a lot of self-confidence, but easygoing. A lot of common sense, too.” Cpt. Steve Kruger, quoted in Making the Corp, p. 271 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 28 The Wise Rifleman, 2 General Krulak: “How do you impart to a 19 year old the intelligence, the tactical skills, the decision making ability--both tactical and moral--to know when to fire and when to protect? When to employ supporting arms in an urban slum and when not to?” 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 29 Conclusion Web resources: This presentation: – http://ethics.acusd.edu/presentations/MCRD/ Ethics Updates: – http://ethics.acusd.edu/ JSCOPE – http://www.usafa.af.mil/jscope/ USD series: James Bond Stockdale Lecture on Ethics and Leadership • http://ethics.acusd.edu/values/Stockdale/index.html • USD Symposium on Just War Theory – http://ethics.acusd.edu/applied/military/Justwar.html 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 30 Third Annual James Bond Stockdale Lecture In Conjunction with the NROTC Battalion of USD/SDSU, The Values Institute is proud to sponsor the James Bond Stockdale Symposium in Ethics and Leadership Dr. Louis Pojman Professor of Philosophy United States Military Academy "Moral Saints and Moral Heroes" Thursday, April 13, 2000 7:00 PM Shiley Theater University of San Diego 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 31 General Regulations Section 4: Duties of Individuals “All commanding officers and others in authority in the naval service are required to show in themselves a good example of virtue, honor, patriotism and subordination…to guard against and suppress all dissolute and immoral practices…” 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 32 Regimental Order 1510.55 3 (a): “Mission: Establish and implement a program of character development designed to enhance the leadership and decision making on tomorrow’s battlefield.” T. C. Conway Commanding Officer Recruit Training Regiment 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 33 Review of Current Objectives “Instill an understanding of and belief in our core values of honor, courage, commitment, those principles essential to value-based decision-making, teamwork, and leadership” 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 34 Self-Control and Character “As Marines develop self-control, they also improve their character.” Semper Fidelis, C. C. Krulak, 1996 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 35 From Thucydides to Bosnia On the dissolution of Corcyrean society: “Reckless audacity came to be considered the courage of a loyal ally; prudent hesitation, specious cowardice; moderation was held to be a cloak for unmanliness; ability to see all sides of a question inaptness to act on any. Frantic violence became the attribute of manliness…” 5/22/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman 36