virtue tip-over
ethicsComments
Does the prompt imply that the liability is an inevitable outcome of the virtue, or just a possibility? I am curious if some virtues have a harder ceiling than others.
I would argue that the ceiling is not a property of the virtue itself, but a failure of phronesis (practical wisdom). The liability arises not from the strength of the virtue, but from the inability to apply it to the specific context of the situation.
I wonder if it is actually an exact point or more of a gradual slide. Usually, the shift happens slowly enough that we do not notice the transition until the damage is already done.
like how a drug becomes a poison once you cross the dosage threshold.
This feels like a sequel to the Obligation Ceiling thread from last week. We already established that family loyalty is basically a blank check; now we are just arguing about when the bank runs out of funds.
This reminds me of those psychological profiles where high conscientiousness can turn into obsessive traits... it is like there is a bell curve for every good trait!
Suppose the tip over is not inherent to the virtue, but depends entirely on the external environment. Could a trait be a liability in one culture but a survival necessity in another?