What Is The Most Important Virtue For Human Fulfillment Essay

What Is The Most Important Virtue For Human Fulfillment - Essay Example In the same regard, it is interesting to note the work of four prominent thinkers of their respective times, namely: Descartes, Spinoza, Emerson and Tolstoy, a brief discourse of which is presented hereunder. The stance of Rene Descartes on the said issue can be summarized as, "I think, therefore I am" (Descartes, 1641). Now a very popular statement, this means much more than the literal meaning. This can be taken as the essence of the entire philosophy of Descartes, wherein he began to understand himself by virtue of his thought processes. On the same lines, his thoughts can be extrapolated upon mankind as a whole. The fact of the matter lies in the fact, that man cannot achieve fulfillment if he does not think; this, even as a proposition is considered to be impossible according to the stance of Descartes. By virtue of undertaking things, dealing with them, and ultimately being deceived by them, it becomes all the more evident to man that there is a reality that exists. This reality can be identified with, and the highest virtue can subsequently be attained by means of thinking. Contemplation gives insight, and ultimately self-actualization. There can be no better strength than realizing one's true potential of existence. Ethics by Spinoza Spinoza's views advocate, "All our endeavors or desires so follow from the necessity of our nature" (Spinoza, 1677). This concept given by him refers to the identification of the power that the human being yields and associates from within himself. Whatever one might seek or ask, it is basically a product of how one identifies with the concept of self. The most significant virtue here becomes knowing about oneself. A person, who realizes himself, is truly the most potent of all. Desires, passions and restraints of the material world, can only be understood with reference to the person. Therefore, if and when a person appreciates his own personal standing and inception, it subsequently becomes the greatest source of endowment and fulfillment for the person. Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Emerson here postulates, "Insist on yourself; never imitate" (Emerson, 1841). This again is a propagation of the belief that an individual should at all times try to be what he/she is, and not impose a figure, picture of personality which is not a true depiction of the same. If one has the tendency to falsify one's self-image, then true actualization of self can never be there. To be able to appreciate and attain the highest order of fulfillment, the greatest virtue here would be to not pay heed to social and extraneous challenges, and keep representing one's own personality as it is. If in the face of conflict, one tends to shy away from the true sense of being, then it can never really come out. Under normal circumstances, it is always simple to portray oneself; however, the true test of character is when there is antagonism, and yet still a person can attain virtue by means of beings what he truly is. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy deliberates upon the topic in the following way, "In place of death there was light" (1886). Though this may seem ironically contrary to the actual concept of life itself, yet this line answers probably the greatest mystery of life - death. So is the virtue of human fulfillment embedded in death Not exactly; it is in understanding the concept of death. It refers to establishing a belief that this entire struggle in life is death itself, and the absolute moment of death, is just the termination of this struggle. The ultimate attainment in life