“Virtue signaling” (“an attempt to show other people that you are a good person, for example by expressing opinions that will be acceptable to them, especially on social media [Cambridge Dictionary] is a phrase I have often heard over the last couple of years. I believe, for the most part, we are all guilty of it. After all, if we express that we don’t participate, are we not participating. I am in academia, so I see it often—too often.
Considering how I am increasingly identified as less-good because I don’t often share the same narrative as colleagues, I have been reflective and, frankly, more determined in my ways. I try to be growth-oriented. I have written and attempted to express many times the feelings I have about labels and how divisive they tend to be. It is not a popular opinion in our society today, but it is where I stand. Along with labels comes discussion about bias. Of course, with discussion bias comes virtue signaling.
We all have bias. I certainly do—I won’t deny it. If bias is intentional (i.e., conscious), then it is an expression of prejudice. I prefer to look at bias as ignorance—as an opportunity to grow. After all, most bias is unintentional.
In my opinion, labeling creates an environment for virtue signaling. It creates an us v. them atmosphere. It creates and opportunity to identify another’s bias while ignoring one’s own (or worse, trumpeting one’s ‘lack’ of bias).
I have for some time been striving to become what I identify as “other-centered”—a phrase I have adopted from the likes of Parker J. Palmer. As such I am learning (and trying to effectively practice) the approach of creating space for the soul to speak. Thus, I am considering (or am opening myself to consider) the individual, not as a member of a group, but as a one among the whole. I am trying to look beyond the labels and to listen to the soul. I think of the soul as what makes us uniquely human and unique humans. Labels and categorizing people ignores this uniqueness. I believe this separates the Spiritual from the Physical in quite destructive ways.
The phrase “virtue-centered” came to mind this morning. (I am sure that this is not an original concept.) I see it as a well-meaning, but self-centered, effort to do good. I would have to admit that writing on this topic today is, in itself, virtue-centered—or certainly viewed by some to be. Undoubtedly, we all want to be perceived as good. We care about what others think. So, we are beginning from a point of virtue-centeredness. Our goal, however, should not be to do good for the sake of being perceived as good. Rather, we must seek to do good for the sake of the good. This is the very foundation of every major religion, though I would be quick to suggest that it is not the practice per se of every major religion. In Christianity, for example, we can see this play out in the discussions of faith v. works. Did Christ die for the sake of our salvation or as an example of our salvation? This is a question that I will leave open.
When we are virtue-centered, we are constantly having to prove our goodness. To prove we are good there has to be some others that are labeled as “bad.” Us v. Them. Virtue-centeredness invariably leads to division.
Other-centeredness, on the other hand, favors unity. It reflects the complex unity to which man is evolving (per the likes of Pierre Teilhard Chardin and others). In this regard, virtue-centeredness is a good thing, as it is likely a stage in our ever-evolving consciousness. It is suggestive of the friction that often develops on the fault line of change.
It is inevitable that we will experience conflict as we move toward greater unity. It is inevitable (in my opinion) that the tendency to label and divide is going to reveal its own futility. Ultimately, we will see the unique Purpose that each fulfills in the greater Whole.
Each of us is far too complex (and valuable) to be identified by even a handful of labels. We do good to understand others on the basis of these labels, but we do better as we seek to understand the complexity of the individual. We must, however, progress beyond labels to ever-increasing complexity and unity of Purpose.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!