Friday, July 3, 2015

David's Brooks, Road to Character

In “The Road to Character,”  David Brooks makes a moral examination of those who champion virtue. He features diverse men and women shaped by adversity and who humbly overcome many obstacles to be of greater service.  Brooks looks at ethical conduct or moral ecology of these individuals who develop a special discipline in tackling their weakness and vulnerabilities by showing insightful humility.

Brooks makes his people selection based on their selfless qualities. These self actualized individuals are not so worried about their ego or as Brook's terms, Adam 1, resume, however their Adam 2, eulogy or higher calling.  Humility allows us to awakened from our weakness so it may be transformed into strength.

Brooks writes about Frances Perkins, who witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.  She latter asks the most important questions about not what is inside by outside her self. First, she questions what she wants of life and then importantly asks what life wants of her.  Overcoming criticism and loss, Frances becomes a leader of the New Deal.

Another person who looked at is Saint Augustine.  He started off with the Roman life of partying, sex and drink.  Brook writes on page 212 on how he changed;

"Augustine sank down in posture of openness and surrender,  Then after the retreat, he was open enough to receive grace, to face gratitude, and rise upward.  This is life with an advance-retreat-advance share; life, death, and resurrection,  moving down to dependence to gain immeasurable height."

Brooks makes spiritual judgements of Frances Perkins or Saint Augustine. “The Road to Character” is about spiritual journeys.  For example, he talks about vocation is a calling or even indignation.  It is not about wants or desires or pursuit of happiness. Instead becoming an instrument for the performance.  There is joy. It is not about serving the community or the destination.  It is about the perfection in each task, satisfaction with craftsmanship.  It is the art where their values are in deep harmony with their behavior

Brooks writes on page 207,

The ultimate conquest of self, is not won by self-discipline, or an awful battle within self.  It is won by going outside the self, however by establishing communion with God and by doing things that feel natural in order to return God's love.

Finally Brooks writes about the The Humility Code pg 261;

Each society creates its own moral ecology.  A moral ecology is a set of norms, assumptions, beliefs, and habits of behaviour and an institutionalized set of moral demands that emerge organically.  Our moral ecology encourages us to be a certain sort of person...But each moral climate is a collective response to the problems of the moment and it shapes the people who live within it.

Below is my summary;

1) Seek life with purpose, meaning, excelling the soul, nourish moral joy, cultivate virtue
and ideals.

2) As flawed beings, virtue vs. vice  Overcome short term desires toward spiritual needs.

3) Inner struggle about overcoming, growing stronger, sacrificing worldly success for inner victory.

4) Humility help assess my true nature, underdog in a struggle against own weakness,  not center of universe however serve a larger order.

5) Pride results in vice. It blinds, deludes and cripples.

6) Struggle with insecurity. Key is to engage with the struggle.

7) Character comes from inner confrontation; dealing with weakness.  Develop discipline, considerate and loving self-control. Do not become slave to passions.

8) Lust, fear, greed, and other flaws lead in a downward struggle.

9) Can not do this alone; you need help and support- God, family, friends etc.

10) We are saved by grace. Struggle with own weaknesses is U shaped.  I am accepted. gratitude fills soul and the desire to serve.

11) Defeating weakness requires quieting the self.  A mute ego opens the external sources of the strength that are needed.  Capacity for admiration and reverence are key sources of virtue.

12) Wisdom starts with modesty.  We are not able to see complex cause and effect. Experience defines wisdom that emerges out of a collection of virtues

13)  Vocation is key to good life.  Find intrinsic work that is compelling and focus on being excellent at that.  serve both self and community.  A vocation is not found by looking within
but looking outside to see what life is asking of us.  What problem is addressed by an activity you intrinsically enjoy?

14) Lead by working with the grain of things, find balance between competing interests, values and goals. Be trimmer, shift weight one way or another.  Be steward of effort

15) Maturity - unity of purpose, purpose of centeredness and calm: find equanimity.

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