Is there anything better than virtue?

If, at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, prudence, self-control, courage – than a mind satisfied that it has succeeded in enabling you to act rationally, and satisfied to accept what’s beyond its control – if you find anything better than that, embrace it without reservations – it must be an extraordinary thing indeed – and enjoy it to the full. -  Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 3.6

This passage is one that could be, for me, the perfect encapsulation of what Stoicism presents to those of us seeking harmony in a life that often offers anything but.  As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, should we find something better than virtue, then by all means, we should go after that “extraordinary thing” as fully as we can – but until that happens, what could be better for us than justice, prudence, self-control, and courage – or, what I more commonly think of as justice, courage, temperance, and wisdom?  What could assist us more than training our minds to be rational and to focus only on what may be within our own control?  Truly, there isn’t anything that I could think of – but perhaps part of why this quote resonates so much is because it calls me to wonder why that is the case.  

Wisdom that comes with age

I could consider it to be part of the wisdom (or acceptance) that comes with age or practice.  After all, I have far less energy for things that present me with any kind of struggle to avoid falling into the trap of focusing on the wrong things within the dichotomy of control.  Then again, I have far less general energy for a lot of things than I used to – but what I do have is a better sense of focus, determination, and will to follow through on what brings the greatest value to my life, even if it requires a significant amount of work.  And that might be one of the best lessons that striving for Stoic virtue has brought to me over the past ten years that I’ve been working at it – something I would describe as the ability to be persistent and to abandon the busyness and frenetic energies of my past in exchange for something that is both more solid and more conducive to growth.

Virtue gives you a structured framework

But what makes this focus on the pursuit of virtue the highest good in my Stoic practice?  Is it simply the ability to use a structured framework to order my decision-making or as a tool to weigh the value and impact of my actions?  Is it something in the nature of these virtues themselves that offer me a specific set of rules for living that supports a better life over all?  Likely it’s both – but I also think the answer is also found in the application of the individual virtues themselves.

As example, when I consider justice as a virtue, it is something that guides, if not defines, my orientation to my place in relationship with others and my outlook on the work of the world.  As a person who attempts to practice Stoic virtue, making sure that I am doing what I can to increase fairness in the work I do is very important to me and always has been.  My dedication to making transformational educational experiences available to everyone, regardless of access or circumstance, is evidence of how I work to encourage equity within my community and in the world at large.  Likewise, my business values include a combination of utility, capabilities, justice-as-fairness, and community-building as core to the projects I undertake.  I believe that we need to take our food system back from the brink – and create true solidarity in our supply chains – with a focus on ethical practices that protect and respect our planetary resources and all the people and creatures who share this space.  This is another way in which I practice justice and I find solace in focusing on what I can control, despite these lofty ambitions – which helps me seek the higher, if not the highest good.

The uses of virtue

If I were to approach each of the virtues with this same desire to find a practical application for the core values each presents, it would be fairly easy for me to do so.  I practice courage when I speak up against injustice or hold my position in the face of difficulty.  As a person long-prone to extremes throughout the course of my life (especially in my younger days), I work on temperance daily every time I remind myself that the moderate approach is a short walk daily rather than attempting to hike a pathway that I’ve not been on before to “make up” for past days of minimal activity.

Or, when quieting myself as a response to others around me rather than engaging in whatever high-energy activities I might feel like indulging in (including excessive sound / conversation).  Even the ability to sit down to reflect on this question and attempt to learn from my experiences – including my mistakes – is a way to work toward wisdom.

Again, I am very much still learning – but the virtues present me with endless opportunities to keep practicing and to work on my life in ways that are measured and focused (even when painful or difficult) as a way to do my best with those things I can control and care much less about those outside of that.

Andi Sciacca serves as the Chief Academic Officer and as the Director of Accreditation & Assessment for the European Graduate School. She also holds a government position with the City of Milwaukee as the Environmental Sustainability Program Coordinator for the FEED MKE Program.

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