Vice

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For other uses, see Vice (disambiguation).

Vice is the opposite of virtue. The modern English term that best captures its original meaning is the word vicious, which means "full of vice." In this sense, the word vice comes from the Latin word vitium, meaning "failing or defect".

Contents 1 Overview 2 The Christian vices 3 Examples of Vices 4 Harmony of vices 5 Popular usage 6 See also 7 Bibliography 8 Sources

[edit] Overview

One way of organising the vices is as the corruption of the virtues. A virtue can be corrupted by nonuse, misuse, or overuse. Thus the cardinal vices would be lust (nonuse of temperance), cowardice (nonuse of courage), folly (misuse of a virtue, opposite of wisdom), and venality (nonuse of justice). See: The four virtues.

[edit] The Christian vices

Christians believe there are two kinds of vice: those which originate with the physical organism, as perverse instincts, such as lust; and those which originate with false idolatry in the spiritual realm . The first kind, although sinful, are believed to be less serious than the second. Some vices recognised as spiritual by Christians are blasphemy (faith betrayed), despair (hope betrayed), apostasy (nonuse of piety), and indifference (scripturally, a "hardened heart"). Christian theologians have reasoned that the most destructive vice equates to a certain type of Pride or the complete idolatry of the self. It is argued that through this vice, which is essentially competitive, all the worst evil comes into being. In Judeo-Christian creeds it led to the fall of man originally, and as a purely diabolical spiritual vice it outweighs anything else often condemned by The Church.

[edit] Examples of Vices

Some vices recognized in various Western cultures of the world include:

denial selfishness ingratitude aggression apathy dependence ignorance Excess hatred lewdness or promiscuity filthiness commitment indifference self-degradation intemperance cowardice rudeness poor judgment

infidelity laziness alcoholism or addiction dishonesty violence dishonor vanity antagonism weakness passivity inferiority unfairness insincerity infidelity absentmindedness cruelty ruthlessness animosity unforgivness diffidence slavery blindness to alternatives shortsightedness suppression omissiveness presumptuosness inequality bigotry prejudice stubbornness hostility hatred wiliness rashness officiousness favoritism

greed stinginess bitterness negativity misanthropy malevolence malice dishonesty dishonour despair pride moral relativism unscrupulousness corruption improvidence parasitism guilt injustice unkindness treachery

unsophistocation immodesty immorality aggression disobedience secretiveness pessimism impatience hostility indolence inconstancy indecision carelessness frivolity lightmindedness slackness slothfulness impiety flightiness capriciousness indulgence purposelessness disrespectfulness responsibility

insincerity irreverence flippancy callousness tactlessness intemperance wantonness licentiousness sensuality worldliness permissiveness foolishness wildness, uncivilization perversion

[edit] Harmony of vices

Since virtues might be said to harmonize, so that every virtue requires all the virtues to some extent, vices also might be said to harmonize; i.e. every vice requires other vices to some extent. If this is the case, the presence of one vice in an individual might be evidence of others.

[edit] Popular usage

The term vice is also popularly applied to various activities considered immoral by some; a list of these might include the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs, gambling, recklessness, cheating, lying, selfishness. It is also used in reference to police vice units who persecute crimes associated with these activities. Often, vice particularly designates a failure to comply with the sexual mores of the time and place such as sexual promiscuity.

Behaviors or attitudes going against the established virtues of the culture may also be called vices: for instance, effeminacy is considered a vice in a culture espousing masculinity as an essential element of the character of males.

[edit] See also

• Vice unit
• Virtue
• Sin
• Golden mean (philosophy)

[edit] Bibliography

• Virtues and Vices, Aristotle, trans. H. Rackman, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, l992. Vol #285.

[edit] Sources

All etymologies are according to the Oxford English Dictionary.