Ancient Greek Conceptions of Virtue

What comes to mind here in 21st century Ireland when we hear the word ‘virtue’? We might suggest that in the present economic climate, the virtues of thrift and prudence are making a return to public discourse. There is a hopeful feeling that the downturn will make us more community-minded and willing once again to show the virtue of charity to our neighbours. The public mood is one of shunning the vice of conspicuous consumption and becoming more temperate in our spending. But what virtues are really motivating the pronouncements of those in public life? Personal glory? Cunning? Wealth? When we hear this list of supposed virtues, we experience intellectual vertigo, for they sound more like vices than virtues. But to the Greek poet Homer , these are all heroic virtues, and it is these with which I begin a brief exploration of ancient Greek conceptions of virtue.