Reference no: EM132653142

"Case Study 3.2: Cultivating Character from Crooked Timber

According to New York Times commentator David Brooks, too many of us focus on developing the wrong set of virtues. We strive to create résumé virtues-the skills and characteristics that help us excel on the job and appear successful in the eyes of the world. We want to be known as hard working, resilient, tenacious, ambitious, creative, and productive. Brooks argues that we ought to develop our eulogy virtues instead. Eulogy virtues are the ones that get talked about at our funerals-whether we were thoughtful, faithful, kind, and courageous.

Eulogy virtues come from the core of our being and provide us with a sense of meaning. They direct the ways in which we use our resume skills and traits. Developing these deeper qualities is a lifelong process based on the recognition that people are imperfect beings. Brooks declares that we are made from "crooked timber," a phrase he draws from Immanuel Kant's declaration, "Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made." Character emerges from the moral struggle against our flaws. However, engaging in this struggle takes humility, an increasingly rare virtue in a culture that promotes self-centeredness through such messages as "You are special," "Trust yourself," "Follow your dream," and "Accept no limits."

Brooks describes the lives of several historical figures who recognized that they were crooked timber and spent their lives overcoming their vices in order to develop their character. For example, Francis Perkins gave up a life of privilege to answer the call to improve labor conditions, serving as "The Woman Behind the New Deal." Dwight Eisenhower wrestled with anger and hatred as he projected confidence and cheerfulness as a military commander and President. Philip Randolph fended off sexual and other temptations to remain incorruptible as he founded the railroad porters' union and helped organize the 1963 civil rights march on Washington. Eighteenth-century novelist Mary Ann Eliot overcame anxiety and depression in a series of novels (Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch) that illustrate the importance of tolerance for the self and other people. Augustine renounced personal control and ambition in order to experience spiritual insight and gratitude.

Brooks offers a Humility Code that outlines strategies for developing character in a world that he believes makes the self the center of the universe. Some of the provisions of his Humility Code include the following:

We live for holiness (purpose, virtue) not happiness.We may be flawed, but we are wonderfully gifted with the capacity for heroic action.Humility is the most important virtue in the struggle against our weaknesses (and pride is the primary vice).Vices like fear, lust, and gluttony are short term while character virtues stand the test of time.Self-mastery takes help from others-friends, families, role models, traditions, institutions.Learn to quiet the self in order to see the world more clearly.Organize life around a vocation or calling that serves the community.As a leader, push for constant gradual change that recognizes that people are flawed; strike a balance between competing values and goals.

Discussion Probes

Do you agree with Brooks that modern Western culture makes the self the center of the universe?What is the value of viewing humans as "crooked timber"? What might be the dangers of this perspective?Is humility the foundation for character development? Why or why not?Which provisions of the Humility Code to you agree with? Take issue with?Can you think of other prominent leaders who struggled to develop their character while wrestling with their weaknesses? How did they cope with their flaws, and what virtues did they develop?

Source

Brooks, D. (2015). The road to character. New York, NY: Random House."

• Explain if you agree with Brooks that modern Western culture makes the self the center of the universe.
• Explain the value of viewing humans as "crooked timber". What might be the dangers of this perspective?
• Describe if humility is the foundation for character development. Why or why not?
• Explain which provisions of the Humility Code you agree with and take issue with.
• Do you recall other prominent leaders who struggled to develop their character while wrestling with their weaknesses? How did they cope with their flaws, and what virtues did they develop?