Knightly Virtues for the Digital Age
Sep. 19th, 2012 06:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zzambrosius_02The latest version:
Knightly Virtues for the Digital Age
Courage:
“Courage, Sir, is the first of virtues, because without it, it is sometimes difficult to exercise the others.” -Samuel Johnson
-Fortitude
-Steadfastness
-Dignity
To remain calm and unruffled when attacked, and to stand your ground in a tough spot, is in some ways the definition of courage. The great Samurai Musashi advised his readers to “Have a defense but don’t be defensive.” If you absorb this truth and make it part of you, you will find a dignified response to attacks of all kinds becomes natural to you.
Prowess:
-More and the Most- Whoever does more is better, whoever does the most is best.
This is my paraphrase of a sentiment which runs throughout the book 'On Chivalry' by Geoffrey de Charnay. De Charnay’s book is a primer on ‘The Profession of Arms’ by a working French knight of the 14th Century. In it he discusses the various estates of French society: the professions of peasant farmer, merchant, clergyman, nun, monk, and the various orders of nobility. He speaks about how he thinks each estate should comport themselves, and insists that each is worthy of honor, for doing their own jobs as they should do. He writes also of women and ladies, and how (he thinks) they should act and bring honor to themselves. He then concludes that the ‘profession of arms’ is the most lofty and worthy of all professions, and offers practical advice to any young man who desires to take it up.
Throughout the book he repeats his theme: that whatever the estate of a person, whoever does more is better and whoever does the most is best. This I see as a form of Prowess in itself, regardless of your modern profession, vocation, or avocation. Do whatever is in your power to do, and strive to improve in the doing.
-Stamina
-Arete
Arete is an ancient Greek concept, meaning “excellence striven for and recognized”. Not just word-fame, nor simply accomplishment, but all three things: You strive (no one achieves Arete by accident); you succeed
(your striving leads to an excellent result); and others take note, honoring your results and the improvement of your whole self.
Courtesy:
-Chivalry
Chivalry in the Medieval context was defined loosely as “courtesy between warriors.” In some ways, the code of chivalry was the Geneva Conventions of its time, containing as it did the rules about capturing and ransoming other knight and nobles. It was intended to regulate the Profession of Arms, protect non-combatants, limit looting and such. The Code oftentimes failed to inspire people to achieve these goals. But then, so do we, in our time, often fail of our aspirations, ethically as well as practically.
Extending this idea to modern times, chivalry would be the rules and codes that regulate the various professions. So a stockbroker who cheats his clients and the other brokers by means of insider trading is, in a sense, unchivalrous.
-Gallantry
What most modern people mean when they speak of ‘Chivalry’ is what a citizen of the medieval world would call ‘Gallantry’. That is, it’s not just proper behavior between men and women, between equals, or between ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ strata of Society. It is that proper behavior carried to an art form, executed with élan and grace. We no longer accept all the _forms_ of Gallantry as then practiced. But the élan and grace, that we can emulate in any situation, making our lives fuller and the lives of others less gray and ugly.
-Reliability
On a completely practical note, no one can be considered Courteous who is not first Reliable. Do what you say will do, at the time arranged. If you fail at this, then all the fair words and formal etiquette that you can muster will not fool anyone.
Magnanimity – From Webster’s:
Magnanimity- 1. Quality of being magnanimous; that quality or combination of qualities in character enabling one to encounter danger and trouble with tranquility and firmness, to disdain injustice, meanness and revenge, and to act and sacrifice for noble objects. 2. A deed or disposition characterized by magnanimity. 3. Grandiose temperament; extravagance of soul. Rare.
-Humility
-Patience
-Mercy
Loyalty
-Grounded-ness
-Commitment
-The Social Contract
Honesty “Always tell the truth but don’t always be telling it.”
-Tempered w/ kindness
-Also with Regard
-And with Caution
Franchise
-Confidence
-Presentation
-Presence
Knightly Virtues for the Digital Age
Courage:
“Courage, Sir, is the first of virtues, because without it, it is sometimes difficult to exercise the others.” -Samuel Johnson
-Fortitude
-Steadfastness
-Dignity
To remain calm and unruffled when attacked, and to stand your ground in a tough spot, is in some ways the definition of courage. The great Samurai Musashi advised his readers to “Have a defense but don’t be defensive.” If you absorb this truth and make it part of you, you will find a dignified response to attacks of all kinds becomes natural to you.
Prowess:
-More and the Most- Whoever does more is better, whoever does the most is best.
This is my paraphrase of a sentiment which runs throughout the book 'On Chivalry' by Geoffrey de Charnay. De Charnay’s book is a primer on ‘The Profession of Arms’ by a working French knight of the 14th Century. In it he discusses the various estates of French society: the professions of peasant farmer, merchant, clergyman, nun, monk, and the various orders of nobility. He speaks about how he thinks each estate should comport themselves, and insists that each is worthy of honor, for doing their own jobs as they should do. He writes also of women and ladies, and how (he thinks) they should act and bring honor to themselves. He then concludes that the ‘profession of arms’ is the most lofty and worthy of all professions, and offers practical advice to any young man who desires to take it up.
Throughout the book he repeats his theme: that whatever the estate of a person, whoever does more is better and whoever does the most is best. This I see as a form of Prowess in itself, regardless of your modern profession, vocation, or avocation. Do whatever is in your power to do, and strive to improve in the doing.
-Stamina
-Arete
Arete is an ancient Greek concept, meaning “excellence striven for and recognized”. Not just word-fame, nor simply accomplishment, but all three things: You strive (no one achieves Arete by accident); you succeed
(your striving leads to an excellent result); and others take note, honoring your results and the improvement of your whole self.
Courtesy:
-Chivalry
Chivalry in the Medieval context was defined loosely as “courtesy between warriors.” In some ways, the code of chivalry was the Geneva Conventions of its time, containing as it did the rules about capturing and ransoming other knight and nobles. It was intended to regulate the Profession of Arms, protect non-combatants, limit looting and such. The Code oftentimes failed to inspire people to achieve these goals. But then, so do we, in our time, often fail of our aspirations, ethically as well as practically.
Extending this idea to modern times, chivalry would be the rules and codes that regulate the various professions. So a stockbroker who cheats his clients and the other brokers by means of insider trading is, in a sense, unchivalrous.
-Gallantry
What most modern people mean when they speak of ‘Chivalry’ is what a citizen of the medieval world would call ‘Gallantry’. That is, it’s not just proper behavior between men and women, between equals, or between ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ strata of Society. It is that proper behavior carried to an art form, executed with élan and grace. We no longer accept all the _forms_ of Gallantry as then practiced. But the élan and grace, that we can emulate in any situation, making our lives fuller and the lives of others less gray and ugly.
-Reliability
On a completely practical note, no one can be considered Courteous who is not first Reliable. Do what you say will do, at the time arranged. If you fail at this, then all the fair words and formal etiquette that you can muster will not fool anyone.
Magnanimity – From Webster’s:
Magnanimity- 1. Quality of being magnanimous; that quality or combination of qualities in character enabling one to encounter danger and trouble with tranquility and firmness, to disdain injustice, meanness and revenge, and to act and sacrifice for noble objects. 2. A deed or disposition characterized by magnanimity. 3. Grandiose temperament; extravagance of soul. Rare.
-Humility
-Patience
-Mercy
Loyalty
-Grounded-ness
-Commitment
-The Social Contract
Honesty “Always tell the truth but don’t always be telling it.”
-Tempered w/ kindness
-Also with Regard
-And with Caution
Franchise
-Confidence
-Presentation
-Presence
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no subject
Date: 2012-09-20 01:51 am (UTC)"Do whatever is in your power to do, and strive to improve in the doing."
These to me feel like very different statements. I've always had a mild sense of disagreement about the first... I see now that I was taking it to mean more quantity rather than more quality. Whereas in the second, that causes me to think that 'more' could also mean quality, in which case I agree with it more.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-20 01:53 am (UTC)To Corvideye
Date: 2012-09-21 12:03 am (UTC)And yes, Sir Geoffrey is more concerned with quality than quantity; or rather with a continuing increase in the worth of your actions. So a man who fights in the lists is worthy, but a man who rides in the joust has done a greater and more more difficult thing, and thus has done more. From here he works his way through going to war nearby, going a long way to a war, learning to run an army, or besiege a town, etc. Eventually he says that a Prince (by which he means anyone from Viscount up, it seems) who does not *have to* do these things but does anyway is the most worthy. His advice to young men-at-arms is to sign on with such a Prince's army and try to work your way up the ladder with worthy deeds. It is very 14th Century, and I abstracted the central theme only, seemingly omitting too much context.
Re: To Corvideye
Date: 2012-09-21 12:21 am (UTC)Re: To Corvideye
Date: 2012-09-21 03:15 am (UTC)People like Alexenos do have a place in Commonwealth society, though: I thought that was very clear. The Polis as a whole goes out of its way to find them worthy and productive work, suited to their mental abilities. I don't know, but I suspect, that they have their own Status network, and that the Whole recognizes their internal 'rankings' when dealing with them as a subset of the Polis.
On the other hand, and despite the meritocratic basis of Commonwealth Society, there's that underlay of anarchic egalitarianism: nobody can be refused food, shelter, or clothing and everyone is expected to contribute something to the Whole. Someone like Jammie, who everyone can see is unable to contribute much if anything, still would have the basic Status of a Commonwealther. Is there a subset of the Med Guild that specializes in the care and 'entertainment' of them? Do people like Alexenos get asked to help out with that work? Maaybe. I'll let you know if I get more data.
All of which is separate from the question posed above: what if anything in the 'knightly virtues' or the Code of Chivalry is still of value in the modern world? Can we extract tools for living, even philosophical principles, from warrior societies of the past? I think *I* at least can, and have, done so. Hence these essays, not just this one but 4x4 as well.
Courtesy / Reliability
Date: 2012-09-27 05:57 pm (UTC)That said, life happens, and 2013 has to take precedence before A.S. XLVII. When we can't fulfill our promise / complete our task, reliability means letting folk involved know promptly what has happened and making timely arrangements (or getting someone to help by making the arrangements) for someone else to take over the responsibility we can't fulfill. One phone call often takes care of that. You call your superior officer or co-autocrat or friend right away and explain what's going on and make other arrangements.
What does this mean in practical terms? It means that you file your officer reports on time, you follow through when you say you'll gather information or take care of a task. It also means that you do the things necessary to write that report, gather that info, do that task -- you're organized enough to be able to find what you need for the task, you schedule yourself sensibly, you know yourself well enough to know what you can and can't accomplish with your available time, energy and resources.
And that regress of things necessary to be reliable takes you back to some very fundamental personality and behavioral traits -- very essential things like knowing yourself and the world around you and how best to operate in it. That's one of the things I love about the SCA and the whole concept of the code of Chivalry. Like any good philosophical system, it can help keep us aware of the fact that our overt behavior depends directly on / is part and parcel of the basic assumptions we make about our lives and the world around us. It can be as demanding and growth-producing as any "way" a person cares to study.
Yseult