Virtue Reflection

Example

Jane is bothered by a magpie's nest opposite her block of flats. Other households in the block are not bothered by it however. Jane wants to find out the appropriate attitude to adopt in view of the nuisance caused by the magpies.

Example

Opposite a block of flats, there's a magpie's nest. As a resident of this block, Jane is bothered by the magpies. They make a lot of noise. Jane writes a letter to the fifteen other households in the block suggesting that they remove the nest, with the council's permission. Other households, it turns out, are in favour of the nest. They think it's educational and fun, especially for the children. They see it as 'nature' nearby their home and are happy to put up with a bit of noise.
Jane's moral question is: What do I find to be an appropriate attitude for me to adopt in regard to the nuisance caused by the magpies, which is not experienced as a nuisance by others? (step 1)

After a round of clarification questions it appears that two other households are against the nest, nine want it to stay and four have no opinion. (step 2)

On the basis of Jane's input, the participants choose the virtues: common sense, self-control, justice and courage. (step 3)

Jane tells her story again incorporating the virtues. (step 4)

Jane gains the following insights from this:

• Prudence - Jane wonders about the role of nature, and more particularly birds, in her life. She realises she is not very close to nature. In general she has no problem with this, but now it comes down to it she wonders whether this is a shortcoming and whether she should change in this respect.

• Temperance - On the other hand she is bothered by the situation. She can't sleep and this irritates her. When she examines the thoughts on which this irritation is based, she comes to the conclusion that in fact she thinks that nature should take account of her way of life and so keep quiet until about 8 a.m. She thinks that this is a bit unreasonable. But because the birds already start singing at 5 am, she would have to go to bed at 10 pm. She finds that unreasonable too. City life also has its demands.

• Justice - She wonders what is reasonable in regard to the birds and the neighbours. Removing the nest wouldn't harm the birds, as long as this is carried out at the right time of year. They will go and nest elsewhere. As far as the neighbours are concerned, she wonders what exactly is fair: should it be a democratic decision? And what would that be? That all those involved are heard and respected? And then counting the votes? Is that fair? She comes to the conclusion that this is not necessarily so, in any case not before she has had a talk about finding a reasonable balance between pleasure and pain. She also finds it sensible to explore different ways of dealing with the nuisance (finding out more about the behaviour of magpies, better ear-plus, yoga etc.) But if these don't work, this has consequences for the balance of pleasure and pain.

• Courage - She wonders what kind of courage she needs in this matter. This is the courage to find out from her neighbours what they think about the issue and not allowing herself to be silenced by the neighbours' reactions to her letters. And, above all, the courage to bring up the issue of pleasure and pain. And finally the courage, after balancing the interests of those concerned, to accept the will of the majority and find other ways of dealing with this nuisance. (step 5)