Exercise 2
Instructions
Choose a virtue, i.e., a positive character trait (some character trait that you think makes a person better if they have it). Do not choose courage. Try to define that trait. In other words, try to specify what that trait is identical to. Give it your best shot. Then consider counterexamples to your definition. Is it possible to have that trait but not have the thing that you defined it as identical to? Or is it possible to have the thing that you defined it as identical to but not have that trait? Wonder about this. If you do think of a counterexample, write it down. Explain why it’s a counterexample. Then start over with a revised definition. Try again to define the same virtue, but make sure that your new definition avoids the previous counterexample. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and then start this exercise. Keep writing down definitions and counterexamples until the 10 minutes is finished. If you discover that you want to keep writing after the 10 minutes, keep going. The important thing is to write for at least 10 minutes. Next, set a timer for 5 minutes. Think of the one person in your life who most has the virtue that you chose. Who is the one person in your life who most has that trait? Write down your best evidence for thinking that person really does have that trait to a high degree. After these 5 minutes, set a timer for 2 minutes. Ask yourself whether you can know that this person really does have that virtue. Explain your answer. You are welcome to continue writing for as long as you wish.
Patience is the ability to be in frustrating situations while remaining calm
Counterexample: Trying to rush things in a very articulate and calm manner is still being impatient.
Patience is the ability to calmly endure, accept, and remain motivated in frustrating situations.
Counterexample: Imagine you are at the DMV, and you are not in control of the situation, so you have no motivation to do contribute or do anything. You accept your situation and are calm and patient, but you are not motivated.
Patience is the ability to calmly endure and accept frustrating situations without losing motivation.
Counterexample: You are working on a long and tedious assignment. You remain motivated and keep working on it, but you want it to be over as soon as possible. You endure the time you must spend, but you are still seeking for it to be over as soon as possible.
Patience is the ability to endure and accept frustrating situations with composure, without an inherent desire to hasten the process or change the circumstances.
The most patient person I know is my dad. While this is probably just a symptom of him needing to be patient with me as part of parenting, I still think of him as a very patient person when interacting with everyone else.
One of the reasons I believe he's very patient is because he does so even when he has nothing to gain for it. He is calm, in control, and accepts situations very easily, almost regardless of the circumstances or impact. Cancelled flight? Missed train? Going to be late for something? He's not irresponsible, but he understands that when those types of things happen, acting erratically is not usually a benefit. He is very collected and doesn't get frustrated often.
I don't think I can ever really know for sure that he's patient for absolutely pure reasons, but that's more of an issue with my beliefs on knowing things than it is an issue with knowing him or matching what I know to my definition. Is he always patient no matter what? Probably not, there are certainly a set of circumstances for which he would become impatient, but I don't think there is anyone I know personally that would have a smaller set of circumstances for which they would become impatient.
