Note 21 — Chapter VII · “VIRTUE” AND “VICE” AS FUNCTIONS OF THE ORGANISM

It is to be observed that Jesus was much more specific and empirical than either Plato or St. Paul, since in his treatment of this phase of the problem of conduct, Jesus often described the situation concretely, e. g., “those persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” rather than by employing, as did Plato and St. Paul, abstract nouns, such as “courage,” “charity,” and the like. But it must also not be forgotten that of all the ethical teachers of antiquity, Socrates alone consistently stuck to the concrete realities of ethics and constantly admitted the size and difficulties of the problems involved.