Out of the Silent Planet What is virtue? Merriam-Webster defines virtue as morally good behavior or character. So how does one become truly virtuous? Must they simply avoid evil or morally wrong behavior? Or must virtue be an active choice? In C.S. Lewis' classic sci-fi novel, Out of the Silent Planet, Dr. Ransom, a philologist, is kidnapped by two scientists and transported with them to the distant planet Malacandra. Soon after landing, Ransom flees for his life as large aliens approach the clearing in which the scientists have pitched their camp. During his time in hiding, Ransom lives with a friendly species of alien where he learns some of the native dialect. Eventually he meets the ruler of Malacandra and experiences a vastly different and more harmonious world than Earth. Ransom, albeit unknowingly, answers the questions posed about virtue in three separate incidents. …show more content…
While in the somewhat capital city of Malacandra, Meldilorn, Ransom observes interesting sculptures and carvings depicting the history of the world. Working on a similar structure nearby is a creature known as a pfifltrigg. Once it realizes that Ransom is in the immediate vicinity, the oddly named being directs Ransom to stand in a particular spot. Then the pfifltrigg proceeds to sketch the human into one of the stone surfaces. Ransom could have easily and politely declined to stand for a sculpture and not have been doing any evil. In fact, the polite refusal probably would not come as a shock or rude behavior to the sculpture, simply a reluctance that is not odd when one visits a strange place. Instead, Ransom decided to please the pfifltrigg and pose for his portrait. This act displayed kindness and politeness, both of which are good character traits, a key part of the definition of virtue. Ransom actively chose to exhibit virtuous traits towards the sculpting
The following day the fourth ransom note was received by Dr. Condon, which indicated he would be acceptable as a go-between. The sixth ransom note was found on March 12. The doctor met an unidentified man, who called himself “John”. They discussed payment of the ransom money. The stranger agreed to furnish a token of the child’s identity.
In Perelandra we have the same or almost the same Ransom as in Out of the Silent Planet. He doesn’t change much over the course of this book until very slightly at the end. This situation is almost reversed in That Hideous Strength; Ransom is a completely different person than he was at the end of Perelandra. He has grown into a leader and teacher but, that happened between the two books and is not shown in a way that is satisfying to the reader. Out of the Silent Planet is where I believe Lewis’s best and most important theological allusions occur.
In Out of the Silent Planet, the main characters, Ransom, Devine, and Weston, had several beliefs at the beginning of the book. What’s unusual is how some of their beliefs changed and some even significantly by the end of the book. Ransom, Devine, and Weston’s philosophies changed and stuck throughout the book and impacted the way they acted to others around them. Ransom, the philosophist , was forced to go to Malacandra by Weston and Devine (Lewis 14, 22). While on Malacandra, his philosophies were tested and changed.
This shows Maleldil (The Voice) is fighting for Ransom so he can stop the presence of evil from corrupting the Perlelandran world. His very name proves his symbolic purpose. Jesus himself was declared a ransom and Maleldil says " 'It is not for nothing that you are named Ransom" (p 182) Lewis is outright saying that Elwin Ransom is playing the role of Jesus on Venus by telling us his purpose is in his name and that Creation is on his side. The doctrine of Creation also helps simply by sending Ransom. Randomly as Ransom is just living his life doing ordinary things - he is told that he 'll be sent to Perelandra but not why.
Since the first civilizations, cultures have valued certain virtues. The dictionary defines a virtue as “a good and moral quality. ”[explain it better] Virtues are vital to every culture. They determine how people conduct themselves, what religion they follow, and how they interact with the world around them.
It's about reading. People read all the time. They read for information, for escape, for entertainment, for instruction, for guidance. They read recipes and tweets and texts. They read newspapers, blogs, and Facebook replies.
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book ll, he explains that virtue is a habit of right action, formed by acting rightly (Nicomachean Ethics, p. 71). What he means by this is that everyone has the chance to act virtuously, but we must for work at doing what is right. Aristotle thought we should be virtuous because if we live virtuously than we will have a better life over
Virtue is not something that occurs by avoiding evil, it comes when you decide to conform to morality and to what is
Aristotle describes virtue theory as an ethical theory that emphasizes an individual 's character rather than following a set of rules. Breaking it down even further to specify knowing right from wrong, being able to read an atmosphere by knowing what is right, and it is the midpoint between two extremes. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. display to be a virtue ethicists through his letter oppose to being a deontologist or utilitarian. Laws define a set of rules that the people should follow; however, there are unjust laws that are meant to be challenged.
Virtue is an active choice. Even the things you don’t think about doing, it is still an unconscious choice. Ransom chose to run away, he chose to live with the Hrossa, and he chose to make the journey to Oyarsa, just to name a few. Ransom’s life at Malacandra was full of choices, just as our lives are full of choices. Some people might say that virtue is not an active choice.
Virtue is defined in many ways. Some say that it comes from the Latin word ‘virtus’, meaning virtue or courage, which comes from the other Latin word ‘vir’, which means man, meaning that virtue is the qualities of a man, such as courage. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines virtue as, “conformity to a standard of right [and/or] a particular moral excellence” (Merriam-Webster 899). With all these definitions floating around, it is hard to determine what virtues really is and what it really means to have virtue. In Plato’s Meno, Socrates and Meno discuss the definition of virtue and whether it can be taught.
Have any of you ever needed to make a choice between something that seems favorable, but could be harmful or something that you know was right? In Out of the Silent Planet, Dr. Ransom travels past a house in the countryside, where he discovers a woman crying for her son, who is long overdue to come home. Ransom then offers to find the woman's son and return the boy at once. Upon doing so he stumbles into an old colleague who plans to take the boy without the consent of his mother. At this time Ransom tells his colleague, Devine, to let the boy go.
Weston says they are going to Malacandra, a planet it our solar system. They had planned to hand him over to a group of humanoids known as the Seroni for sacrifice. After arriving on this planet and helping his captor's to set up their camp, Ransom makes his attempt at escape, running from the captors and their allies, who are native to the planet. However, Ransom soon realizes the creature means no harm, and is trying earnestly to communicate with him through hand signals and the native language. The creature opened its mouth and began to make noises.
The virtue theory, which pursues virtuous principles, strategies and actions, can lead companies to understand their values, including mission, purpose, profit potential and other objectives. Virtuous employees tend to perform their roles consistently and competently in the direction of the company's goals. Virtues are the kind of thing you allow someone to take action to appreciate. Business people increase their likelihood of reaching their values and goals when they reach Objectivist virtues. Virtues emphasize the importance of each employee's valuable contribution.
Essential Virtues: Achieving a Good Life Man has always sought after what he deemed a “good life”. A good life is being able to achieve one’s goals, pursuit of happiness, or when life’s blessings outweigh the burdens. Virtues help guide one to become morally excellent and live a fulfilling life. A virtue can be a behavior, personality trait, or habit that affects one’s emotions, perceptions and choice in life.