Public Virtue Approaches

Abstract

Since ancient times writings on government and leadership show concern for values and virtues of rulers and administrators. A large part of the received texts in political philosophy and ethics deals with remedies against certain human traits and temptations that are understood to undermine rule in the public interest or the common good. Plato, Cicero, Augustine and many others depicted individuals in powerful positions as inclined to use public powers for their own benefit (or that of their kin and associates), or as tempted to act without proper evaluation of cases at hand, or as likening to identify the continuance of their ruling position with the common good, etc. In their treatises these philosophers pointed out certain laws, or dominant orientations or other societal characteristics that did not properly remedy such temptations, but in fact stimulated them. For this reason, Plato and the others argued for specific arrangements — sometimes involving a complete societal revolution — supporting the proper development and support of public values and virtues.