The very idea of moral character has been hollowed out. It’s now thought to mean “being good,” and we tend to regard it simply as obeying rules, avoiding evil, and exhibiting “nice” behavior. Next to the more traditional idea of virtue, this kind of bloodless, anemic do-goodery makes a trained dog seem more interesting than a human being. In its fullest conception, virtue includes much more than good behavior; it includes the idea of being something, or becoming completely what it is to be human.
The way we attain virtue, becoming fully what we are, is suggested by the etymology of the word “character.” The term derives from an ancient Greek word meaning “engraved mark,” something that is gradually inscribed yet difficult to remove. Indeed, the virtues are acquired in just this fashion: through the repetition of acts that at first may be difficult or against our inclination but which eventually etch upon our souls a habit of good character.
