Generosity (tracing paper from other Greek. Μεγαλοψυχία , "greatness of the soul") is a virtue , the external manifestations of which are the absence of vindictiveness , condescension , and the willingness to selflessly sacrifice one's interests in the name of a greater purpose. Generosity allows you to fight against envy and stinginess [1] .
Aristotle
In Aristotle's ethics, virtue is the middle ground between equally undesirable extremes. Generosity is therefore placed between vanity and cowardice , just as courage is between recklessness and cowardice , and generosity is between wastefulness and avarice [2] .
Some Russian authors point out that Dr. Greek Aristotle’s μεγαλοψυχία is not closer to Russian “generosity”, but to pride , which in Christianity is not virtue, but the most important vice , and they suggest translating the Aristotelian term as “majesty” [3] . This term proposed by A. A. Sanzhenakov, however, is not shared by many translators. Thus, E.V. Karchagin and D.R. focuses excessively on momentary glory or shame, sticks out luck and is hard at failure [4] .
In Warfare
The military “dimension” of generosity (interpreted as moderation in relation to the thirst for glory and power) requires mercy to the vanquished. Since medieval times, the continuation of aggression against the losing side after the end of the battle is not associated with military valor , but becomes illegal violence, contrary to the Christian concept of a just war [5] . As Raymond Tolstoy said in 1170: “Without generosity, victory is a bad, atrocious business.” In knightly times, commercial gain was mixed with noble considerations; the same Raymond Tolstoy continues: "the ransom for them [prisoners] will be much more useful to us than their death, as it will increase the reward for our soldiers and give an example of noble behavior." By the end of the XII century, the redemption of prisoners was commonplace, and the manifestation of unusual generosity was considered the release of the prisoner to freedom without redemption [6] .
P. Robinson associates the generosity of the military with Aristotelian and considers it a derivative of honor [7] .
Relationship with Generosity
Generosity is manifested in the relationship between commanders and subordinates, owners and workers, including in the form of generosity , this concept goes back to the pre-Christian customs of the “right” relationship between the leader and his squad. So, in medieval times, a generous reward for service was supposed to be higher than requested, to cover more than the immediate needs of a subordinate [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Kukhtenkova, 2010 , p. 223.
- ↑ Walker, 2018 , p. 197-198.
- ↑ Jag, Olga Prokofievna. About pride . // Ethical Thought 7 (2006).
- ↑ On Virtues and Vices , Comment 9. // Verbum. 2017. No 19. p. 230.
- ↑ Kukhtenkova, 2010 , p. 221.
- ↑ Kukhtenkova, 2010 , p. 222.
- ↑ Robinson, Paul. Magnanimity and integrity as military virtues // Journal of Military Ethics 6.4 (2007): 259-269. (eng.)
Literature
- generosity // Explanatory dictionary of Ushakov . / D.N. Ushakov. 1935-1940.
- Matthew D. Walker. with. 197-198 // Aristotle on the Uses of Contemplation. - Cambridge University Press, 2018 .-- P. 197-198. (eng.)
- Kukhtenkova O. A. Knight's ethics. The content of the concept of nobility in representations of medieval society (XI-XIII centuries) // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Arts. - 2010. - No. 2 .