Exploring Virtue: Philosophic Discourse Through the Lens of Plato, Plotinus, and Bishop Butler

This episode asks the questions:

• How do we resolve life's Existential Delimma and paradox?
• What is 'Virtue?'
• Can 'Virtue' be taught?

Joel drops in at Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore and finds Ken Kelbaugh, David White, and 'Ted' Estragon in philosophic discourse and joins the discussion examining Bishop Butler, Plotinus, and Plato.

A few minutes into the conversation, Rochester poet Stephen Lloyd joins the conversation.

Through the evolution of the talk, an examination of 'Virtue' begins to take shape.

What is Virtue? Is it inherent? Can it be cultivated?

David outlines Bishop Butler's discourse on the topics of Human Nature, The Divine, Thought, Conscience, and Intellect and shares Butler's raison d'etre to 'seek the truth unashamed to learn.'

Ted shares 'we [human beings] are not a being, we are a becoming.'

An examination of 'daimon' versus 'intuition' is sought.

A myth of Zeus and the human question is shared.

Through this deep investigation of Virtue, myth and religion are explored.

The day's discussion closes with David White reading from his original poem Astratto.

Biography:

David White's birthplace was Fitch's Sanitarium in the Bronx (founded in 1920 and closed in the early 1960s) now he is in senior housing. David was born on December 29, 1946. The axis of his career is in philosophy, religion, and drama, and turned when he came to understand Bishop Butler’s explanation of the prophet unheeded. David's first poem was written on assignment for a college English class. On the last day, the professor handed his poem back, unmarked and ungraded. She said she had the poem on her desk since it was turned in, David reported that when the course had ended all she could say was, “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”

Vladimir Estragon ('Ted') is a militant Platonist, Plotinian, and Dionysius-Areogapitian - but insists on radical moderation in others. His career aspirations include learning Attic Greek, juggling with flaming torches, and performing 'Lucky's Speech' in a stage performance of 'Waiting for Godot.' Ted host's a monthly film viewing at Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore every 3rd Thursday of the month (except April), starting at 6:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public at 439 Monroe Avenue, Rochester NY.

Stephen Lloyd is a Rochester poet and frequenter of Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore.

Ken Kelbaugh is the owner of the Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore.