1/21/10  Turn Vice into Virtue

      The proverbial seven deadly sins are anger, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, and sloth. People are mostly against these sins. At least in other people. However, if we replace the words with less odious terms to apply to ourselves we can transform from sinners into saints. Or if not saints exactly, sinners lite.

Instead of anger, say outrage.
Instead of envy, say equality.
Instead of gluttony, say gourmandery.
Instead of greed, say self-interest.
Instead of lust, say hot-blooded.
Instead of pride, say self-esteem.
Instead of sloth, say laid-back.

      Now then, don't you feel better about yourself? But don't get carried away with the feeling or you're back to pride.

      On the other hand there are folks who make a virtue of "acting naturally". These people will tell you checking your natural inclination in favor of some societal rule of behavior is being fake or hypocritical or dishonest. (Is there a Dr. House in the house?)

      But ask yourself, how many of the seven deadly sins are natural impulses. If your answer is seven, then the seven sins: anger, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, and sloth; become seven virtues: act naturally, act naturally, act naturally, act naturally, act naturally, act naturally, and act naturally.

      An important point of civilization is to get people to act civilized and stop acting naturally. At least where our natural impulses are harmful. To behave according to social convention is not hypocritical if you believe it's the right thing to do. You might say it's the victory of the civilized mind over the natural brain, the triumph of reason over impulse.