Sermons of Virtue V
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Sermons of Virtue V
Author: Loki
This implies that the Virtues were and are intended for all inhabiting our lands, which now also includes non-humans. Second, the Virtues are obviously the centerpiece for an entire society. The entire society is inclusive of all inhabiting the lands, not solely the Humankind inhabiting the lands. To do otherwise would be to tear at the fabric of our society by relegating a large portion of our peoples as less worthy than those of a chosen exalted subgroup; in this case it places humans over non-humans. Lord British never intended for our society to be bipolar, he intended, stood for, and fought for a united society of total acceptance and inclusion.
Others simply claim that humans are the pinnacles of evolution. They claim that humans stand above the other races. They add that due to this superiority, only humans are capable of achieving the Virtues. They believe that the other races would inherently be unable to use the light of Virtues to find the true path of Virtue. This view originates in a despising of those different than oneself. It additionally wrongly ignores the abilities of those different than oneself. So this argument roots itself with the central point being Despise and Wrong, the antitheses of Compassion and Justice.
Still others claim that the Virtues belong to humans because a human conceived them. It is figured that obviously humans, and only humans, were meant to understand and live by the Virtues. They hold with greed to the Virtues refusing to share them with the other races. This is Covetous behavior, the opposite extreme from Sacrifice.
Another byproduct of those choosing to reserve the Virtues solely for Humankind, thus denying the Virtues to those of mixed or non-human blood, would be to turn our society into two opposing camps. In time such division will lead to strife, conflict, distrust, friction, and eventually to civil war. This is hopefully not the intent of those supporting the misguided notion of a bipolar society; one of the Virtues and one denied the Virtues. A society divided cannot stand and is inheritably weaker. Just as Lord British intended, we should strive for the most united and strongest society possible. In such a society the Virtues are the common thread, not just for some, but universally for all. To assume different is Arrogance, the diametric opposite of Humility.
Virtue: The Balance We Need
Lord British established the Virtues, Based on the Three Principles. He set us all on the path of Virtue. Thus establishing a principled Order. But soon the Order was opposed. Opposed by the concept of Chaos. Order and Chaos can not both exist in peace. If Order exists then Chaos will rebel against it. If Chaos exists then Order must fight against it. For clarification we must note. Order does not equate to goodness. Just as Chaos does not equate to evil. The followers of the Ebon Skull are followers of Order. Their actions are to spread Chaos among others. But our ruling councils were steeped in Virtue. And were established to hold the path. But now some speak of a broader more inclusive view. They call for adoption of Balance Over the teachings of Virtue Choosing Balance is to ignore the Virtues. Balance equates Order with Chaos. It demands equal portions of both in our lands. This balance will spread ruin across our lands. This balance cannot exist in reality As Order and Chaos cannot be balanced. They can only be violently opposed. I stand here with another Balance to suggest. I suggest a Virtuous Balance. A Balance we have defined here before. A Balance where you try to balance your following of each Virtue. A Balance that recognized the Complimentary Virtues. A Balance that implements Complimentary Virtues as The Balance where one does not choose Valor over Justice. The Balance where one does not choose Compassion over Honor. The Balance where one does not choose Honesty over Sacrifice. The Balance where one does not choose Spirituality over Humility. For a land lacking in Virtue will fall into Darkness. A land without a Balance in Virtue is equally doomed. Balance must be reached But NOT the Balance of Chaos and Order We must strive for is the Virtuous Balance. The Virtuous Balance found only through discipline A discipline in harmony with the People. A discipline in harmony with the Principles and the Virtues. A Virtuous Balance which is the multiplier of Principles through Virtue.
The Three Halves of Virtue There are three halves to Virtue, one half for each of the Principles. If you take the eight Virtues and examine them analytically with respect to the Principles, you find the Principle of Love in four of eight Virtues, the Principle of Truth in four of eight Virtues, and the Principle of Courage in four of eight Virtues. Each Principle is represented in half of the Virtues, thus the three halves of Virtue.
Go another step in this analysis; you will find that two of the Virtues honor all three Principles, each in a drastically different way. Spirituality constitutes the combination of all three Principles, while Humility constitutes the absence of all three Principles. Another passing note of interest is that pairing Humility and Spirituality together, they represent each Principle once. I like to call this Complimentary Virtues.
Are there other Complimentary Virtues? As a matter of fact, each Virtue has a Complimentary Virtue. This gives us four pairs of Complimentary Virtues. Compassion with Honor. Honesty with Sacrifice. Valor with Justice. And as we noted at the start, Humility and Spirituality.
This begs the question, “Is there any significance to these pairings?” In all my studies, I have not come across any formal declaration of significance, but I have theorized that there must be some relevance. My feeling is that by combining Complimentary Virtues in an act, one has committed an act of totally balanced Principle. Following these musings a little further, we find that if we were to sum the total Principles contained in the eight Virtues, we would find that they total out at four, five if you consider Humility to honor all three through their absence. Through this we see that a life lived with perfect balance of the Virtues will act as a multiplier of the three Principles.