312 Global Ethics for Leadership
article will provide recommendations on how individuals, institutions
and nations can apply ethics in politics and in the economy.
26.1 Introduction: Virtues and Values
People and organisations make decisions based on motivations
which derive from various factors such as power, greed, opportunities,
emotions, faith—or values and virtues. Values are reference points and
ethical principles on which decisions and actions are taken. They help
to answer questions such as “What shall I do? How shall I decide?” Vi r-
tues are attitudes or behaviours of individuals. Through self-control,
education and regular training, an individual can become and remain an
ethical person. Interpreting and giving priority to virtues over values
may bring change in a person’s life, as well as to a society or a culture.
26.2 Virtues in the History of Ethics and in the Bible
“Virtues express excellence through (1) fundamental human capabil-
ities on the intellectual, moral and spiritual level, (2) which are oriented
towards good ends and (3) improve the quality of life of individuals and
societies and allow them to become better.”^232 This is how the classical
Philosophy interprets the benefits of virtues. Mankind can develop and
blossom to its full potential when guided by virtues.
The philosophical theory on virtues was developed by Greek philos-
ophers, mainly Plato and Aristotle, based on Socrates’ teachings. A good
life can be achieved in attaining betterment. Plato developed the four
cardinal virtues: prudence, fortitude, justice, temperance (sophrosyne
[Greek: σωφροσύνη], is an ancient Greek concept of an ideal of excel-
lence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one
232
Craig Steven Titus, Art. Vertus, Dictionnaire encyclopédique d’éthique
chrétienne, Cerf, Paris 2013, 2073-2093.