Everything turns on your assumptions about it, and that’s on you. You can pluck out the hasty judgement at will, and like steering a ship around the point, you will find calm seas, fair weather, and a safe port.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 12.22
Is it inherently virtuous to give someone the benefit of the doubt?
Giving someone the benefit of the doubt is Hospitable, Courageous, Wise… it would seem that giving someone the benefit of the doubt IS inherently virtuous, right?
We cannot forget, however, that in the pursuit of virtue, there is more than just embodying said virtue, OR not embodying said virtue. If we give someone the benefit of the doubt with the foreknowledge of past hurts and traumas, what we’re offering to them is the “idiot” version of this virtue. Also, if we give someone a break, knowing they’ve changed, then use that “break” against them for sociocultural leverage, then we’d be “weaponizing” the virtue.
Perhaps giving someone the benefit of the doubt, much akin to being Wise, or having Integrity, or embodying other virtues… has room for ego’s selfish influence.
Seek virtuous kindness without ego. It's harder than you think.
If you think it isn't, that's your ego talking.
(See y’all tomorrow)
Giving someone the benefit of the doubt is Hospitable, Courageous, Wise… it would seem that giving someone the benefit of the doubt IS inherently virtuous, right?
We cannot forget, however, that in the pursuit of virtue, there is more than just embodying said virtue, OR not embodying said virtue. If we give someone the benefit of the doubt with the foreknowledge of past hurts and traumas, what we’re offering to them is the “idiot” version of this virtue. Also, if we give someone a break, knowing they’ve changed, then use that “break” against them for sociocultural leverage, then we’d be “weaponizing” the virtue.
Perhaps giving someone the benefit of the doubt, much akin to being Wise, or having Integrity, or embodying other virtues… has room for ego’s selfish influence.
Seek virtuous kindness without ego. It's harder than you think.
If you think it isn't, that's your ego talking.
(See y’all tomorrow)
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