The title gives the simple theme of this little book from a psychology professor at Pepperdine University: Character is Destiny. For the most part this is true. We would like it to be true. It's too simplistic because other things can interfere with our "destiny." Like being the victim of an unfortunate accident. Like contracting an incurable disease. Like birth defects and being born in poverty and unfortunate circumstances. Like simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we all would I assume like character to be our destiny. Break out the Thomas Hardy!
The concept of character has a history going back at least to Aristotle. The author, a psychologist, says the discipline replaced character with personality for research purposes. P. 6 They are not the same things. Character is what you habitually do, not the span of your traits.
Character and personality should be distinguished although at times they can be used interchangeably. P. 7
I would call this author a humanistic psychologist if that term is still in vogue.
Character is destiny, not personality. P. 8
Until recently personality was secondary to character. P. 8
You are much more than your personality traits. P. 8
Character is who you really are.
Self-esteem is not a cure all personality trait. Having high esteem doesn't necessarily mean you are a good person. People with high esteem can do terrible things of course. P. 9
The author that individuals determine their own destiny from their character. Some truth her, but at the same time, he is very naive. Obviously he is not a socialist. He does not deal with the issues with minorities face in this country. He seems unaware of systemic racism. P.10
There are societal limits to character is destiny.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
-Socrates
The examined life is sometimes not so hot either.
Character is what you are in the dark.
-Dwight Moody P. 23
We are what we repeatedly do.
-Aristotle P. 31
The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.
-Anne Frank P. 37
I dan watch myself and my actions, just like an outsider.
-Anne Frank, P. 39
Emerson maks a point about too much book knowledge in the colleges in 1837. No one can plausibly make that claim anymore since students do not read anymore. Too much digital knowledge? Maybe so. P. 49
Can you teach people to be good? This author notwithstanding, I am dubious. Pl 50
What you ARE in terms of your character is much more important than what you know. P. 52
In our daily lives we usually know what is good and right it's just a matter of doing what is good and right. P. 54
Ethical dilemmas are interesting and useful to contemplate but not a normal quotidian concern for most of us. P. 54
Excellence is habit. (Aristotle) P. 59
Ethical excellence coms about as a result of habit. P. 61
-Aristotle
Becoming a person of excellent character is like becoming an excellent musician, athlete, or carpenter. It is a matter hard work, repetition, and developing good habits. Aristotle P. 63-64
No comments:
Post a Comment