VALUES, VIRTUES, IDEALS & ACHIEVEMENTS:
POLITICS, HISTORY & MYTH (2)
INTRODUCTION
Origin
Middle English from Old French, feminine past participle of valoir ‘be worth’, from Latin valere.
Values
Principles or standards of behaviour; one’s judgement of what is important in life.
- ‘They internalize their parents‘ rules and values’
- The ultimate deterrent to all of this is a strong set of moral values, rules and standards.’
- ‘In exit polls in about 1 in 5 voters ranked moral values as the most important issue in the election.’
- ‘We expect our schools to set standards, impart values and encourage responsible behaviour.’
- ‘Today, principled values and beliefs are notably absent.’
- ‘We don’t have to give up our values, beliefs or principles but we do have to move on.’
- ‘Ethics are a set of shared values or moral principles that modify our behavior in social situations.’
- ‘These markers invoke public consciousness about what values, beliefs, and capabilities people have.’
- ‘The world, as the rules crashed down around us, began debating the values and principles by which we wished to live and the costs we would accept to live by them.’
- ‘He said it was important to recognise cultural values as proper elements of ethical behaviour.’
- ‘In their pursuit of power, wealth, or sensory pleasures, they can choose to ignore all moral values or ethical principles.’
- ‘But it is really about choosing a set of values, moral standards and a national image.’
- ‘Economic viability is necessary, I’ll grant that, but upholding our values is just as important, if not more so.’
- ‘I want to talk about the importance of values and culture in public life.’
- ‘Indeed, one of the important values which health care professionals have to hold dear is great respect for human life.’
- ‘Every classroom should have been asked to debate the values important to young Australians.’
- ‘I’m stubborn as hell and have a very hard time backing down on my values when they’re important to me.’
- ‘Respect for others is after all one of the most important values to encourage in our society.’
- ‘I ask my freshmen classes each semester what the most important values are in their lives.’
- ‘As far as they were concerned, discrimination was simply a reflection of society’s values at the time.’
- ‘Instead, it conformed to a conservative set of values not associated with modern liberalism.’
Synonyms
principles, moral principles, ethics, moral code, morals, moral values, standards, moral standards, code of behaviour, rules of conduct, standards of behaviour
EUROPE
EUROPE
USA
Pilgrim Fathers, in American colonial history, settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the first permanent colony in New England (1620). Of the 102 colonists, 35 were members of the English Separatist Church (a radical faction of Puritanism) who had earlier fled to Leiden, the Netherlands, to escape persecution at home. Seeking a more abundant life along with religious freedom, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Approximately two-thirds of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, hired to protect the company’s interests; these included John Alden and Myles Standish.
These first settlers, initially referred to as the Old Comers and later as the Forefathers, did not become known as the Pilgrim Fathers until two centuries after their arrival. A responsive chord was struck with the discovery of a manuscript of Gov. William Bradford referring to the “saints” who had left Holland as “pilgrimes.” At a commemorative bicentennial celebration in 1820, orator Daniel Webster used the phrase Pilgrim Fathers, and the term became common usage thereafter.
Unveiling celebrates the completion of the largest art restoration project in South Shore history
The nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum, Pilgrim Hall Museum (…). The special free event culminates a series celebrating the conservation of their trademark mammoth historic artifact, The Landing of the Pilgrims, a monumental painting by Henry Sargent.
A work of national significance, The Landing of the Pilgrims painting played a role in establishing the Pilgrims as “forefathers” of America, and the landing a central story in the greater narrative of the founding of the United States. https://history.fas.harvard.edu/event/pilgrim-hall-museum-revealing-landing-pilgrims
Founding Fathers, the most prominent statesmen of America’s Revolutionary generation, responsible for the successful war for colonial independence from Great Britain, the liberal ideas celebrated in the Declaration of Independence, and the republican form of government defined in the United States Constitution. While there are no agreed-upon criteria for inclusion, membership in this select group customarily requires conspicuous contributions at one or both of the foundings of the United States: during the American Revolution, when independence was won, or during the Constitutional Convention, when nationhood was achieved.
Although the list of members can expand and contract in response to political pressures and ideological prejudices of the moment, the following 10, presented alphabetically, represent the “gallery of greats” that has stood the test of time: John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Marshall, George Mason, and George Washington. There is a nearly unanimous consensus that George Washington was the Foundingest Father of them all.
Is our Greek and Roman heritage merely allusive and illusory? Or were our founders, and so our republican beginnings, truly steeped in the stuff of antiquity? So far largely a matter of generalization and speculation, the influence of Greek and Roman authors on our American forefathers finally becomes clear in this fascinating book-the first comprehensive study of the founders’ classical reading.
Carl J. Richard begins by examining how eighteenth-century social institutions in general and the educational system in particular conditioned the founders to venerate the classics. He then explores the founders’ various uses of classical symbolism, models, “antimodels,” mixed government theory, pastoralism, and philosophy, revealing in detail the formative influence exerted by the classics, both directly and through the mediation of Whig and American perspectives. In this analysis, we see how the classics not only supplied the principal basis for the U.S. Constitution but also contributed to the founders’ conception of human nature, their understanding of virtue, and their sense of identity and purpose within a grand universal scheme. At the same time, we learn how the classics inspired obsessive fear of conspiracies against liberty, which poisoned relations between Federalists and Republicans.
The shrewd ancients who molded Western civilization still have much to teach us, Richard suggests. His account of the critical role they played in shaping our nation and our lives provides a valuable lesson in the transcendent power of the classics.
Oldest institution of higher learning in the United States (founded 1636) and one of the nation’s most prestigious. It is one of the Ivy League schools. The main university campus lies along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a few miles west of downtown Boston. Harvard’s total enrollment is about 23,000.
Harvard’s history began when a college was established at New Towne, which was later renamed Cambridge for the English alma mater of some of the leading colonists. Classes began in the summer of 1638 with one master in a single frame house and a “college yard.” Harvard was named for a Puritan minister, John Harvard, who left the college his books and half of his estate.
Harvard University was founded in 1636 with the intention of establishing a school to train Christian ministers. In accordance with that vision, Harvard’s “Rules and Precepts,” adopted in 1646, stated (original spelling and Scriptural references retained):
“2. Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him (Prov. 2:3).
3. Every one shall so exercise himselfe in reading the Scriptures twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in Theoreticall observations of Language and Logick, and in practical and spiritual truths, as his Tutor shall require, according to his ability; seeing the entrance of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130).”
The motto of the University adopted in 1692 was “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae” which translated from Latin means “Truth for Christ and the Church.” This phrase was embedded on a shield as shown to the right, and can be found on many buildings around campus including the Widener library, Memorial Church, and various dorms in Harvard Yard. Interestingly, the top two books on the shield are face up while the bottom book is face down. This symbolizes the limits of reason, and the need for God’s revelation. With the secularization of the school, the current shield now contains only the word “Veritas” with three open books.
Consistent with “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae” and the original purpose of Harvard’s founding, our fellowship is dedicated to discovering and experiencing Truth (Veritas) for the sake of Christ and his church.
Myth Overview
The Arthurian legends are stories about the character of King Arthur. They form an important part of Britain’s national mythology. Arthur may be based on a real person from history, possibly a Celtic warlord of the late 400s ce. The legends, however, have little to do with history. They blend Celtic mythology with medieval romance, and feature such well-known elements as the magic sword Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the search for the Holy Grail , the cup from which Jesus drank during the Last Supper. Arthur’s court at Camelot has been idealized as a kind of perfect society, with a just and wise king guiding his happy people.
The Arthurian legends exist in numerous versions and can be interpreted in various ways. They include tales of adventure filled with battles and marvels, a tragic love story, an examination of what it means to be king, and an exploration of the conflict between love and duty. The legends tell the story of the mighty King Arthur who brought order to a troubled land. He might have gone on to rule the world if passion and betrayal had not disrupted his perfect realm and contributed to his death.
Like many heroes of myth and legend, Arthur is of royal birth; however, until he comes of age and claims his throne, he does not know the truth about who he is. Arthur must defeat many enemies before becoming king. Some of these defeated kings and noblemen are so impressed by him that they swear to remain his loyal servants.
Like Finn , the legendary Irish hero, Arthur is surrounded by a band of devoted followers. In early versions of the tales, these were warriors and chieftains, but once the tales were set in the Middle Ages, his followers became courtly knights. Their number varies from a dozen to more than a hundred, depending on the source. A few of the knights, especially Gawain (pronounced gah-WAYN), Galahad , and Lancelot , emerge as distinct personalities with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Not all the legends focus on King Arthur. Many deal with the Knights of the Round Table, who ride out from King Arthur’s court at Camelot to do good deeds and perform brave feats. The most honorable and difficult of all their actions is the search for the Holy Grail. Of all the knights, only Galahad is pure enough to succeed in this quest.
Magical Power and Human Weakness Supernatural beings and events play an important part in the Arthurian legends. Before Arthur is born, his destiny is shaped by the wizard Merlin , who later serves as the king’s adviser and helper. Another powerful magical figure is the witch Morgan Le Fay, who works for good in some versions of the legends and for evil in others. She is sometimes referred to as Arthur’s half sister.
Arthur becomes king by gaining possession of the enchanted sword Excalibur. There are two versions of how Arthur gets the sword. In one, Excalibur is in a stone, and all believe that whoever can pull the sword from the stone will be the true king. Arthur pulls the sword from the stone and claims the throne. In the other version, Arthur is given the sword by the ”Lady of the Lake” (a water spirit probably of ancient Celtic origin).
Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table battle a number of giants and monsters—supernatural creatures that figure often in the legends—but the tragic aspect of the legends arises not from spells cast by wicked sorcerers or the actions of vicious enemies but from the behavior of people closest to the king. Guinevere (pronounced GWEN-uh-veer), Arthur’s queen, and Lancelot, his beloved friend and best knight, betray Arthur by becoming lovers. Like the appearance of the serpent in the Garden of Eden , their betrayal introduces disorder and deception into what had been a perfect world.
Mordred , Arthur’s jealous nephew, uses Guinevere’s affair to destroy the unity of the Round Table. Eventually, Mordred goes to war against Arthur. Some versions of the story make Arthur and his half sister Morgause (pronounced mor-GAWZ) Mordred’s parents, placing part of the blame for the fall of Camelot on the king’s youthful sin of incest.
Arthurian Legends in Context
The earliest Arthurian legends blended Celtic history and myth. Scholars have not been able to determine if King Arthur is based on a person who really existed, even though several early histories of Britain mention him. These histories suggest he may have been a Celtic war leader who helped defend Britain against Anglo-Saxon invaders in the 400s or 500s ce.
The role of Celtic mythology in the early Arthurian legends is much more definite. Many of the characters and adventures associated with Arthur come from older myths. Arthur himself may be based on the legendary Welsh priest-king Gwydion (pronounced GWID-yon), and Merlin clearly comes from Myrddin (pronounced MIRTH-in), who appears as both a prophet and a madman in Welsh and Scottish lore. Scholars believe that the Arthurian legends took shape sometime after about 500 ce, when the Celts began to attach familiar myths to new stories about a war hero named Arthur.
Irish Arthur
Arthurian legends are primarily rooted in the mythology of Wales, but Arthur also appears in Irish folklore and literature. In early tales, he is the son of the king of Britain. He steals dogs belonging to Finn, a legendary Irish hero drawn from the same ancient Celtic sources as Arthur himself. During the Middle Ages, Irish storytellers and writers produced their own versions of the Arthurian tales. They also used Arthurian characters in later Irish stories. In one such story from the 1400s ce, Sir Gawain helps the king of India, who has been turned into a dog, to recover his proper form.
Key Themes and Symbols
The Round Table is a key symbol in the legends of King Arthur. It represents the unbroken bond between the knights, all of whom are dedicated to the same goals. Since the table does not have a “head,” each knight is given a position of equal importance. The idea of equality was important to the knights of Arthurian legend.
Another important theme in Arthurian legend is the idea of Arthur as an eternal, or timeless king. When Arthur finally falls in battle, he is carried away to the mythical and sacred isle of Avalon, off the west coast of Wales. Arthur’s wounds heal on Avalon and he returns to Britain to help solve a future crisis. Some scholars have seen similarities between Arthur and sun gods who die and sink into the west only to be reborn.
Arthurian Legends in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life
Writers during the Middle Ages created new versions of the Arthurian legends. In the early 1100s, an Englishman named Geoffrey of Monmouth produced the History of the Kings of Britain, which presented Arthur as a national hero. New influences, such as Christianity, transformed the ancient legends. An old Celtic Arthurian tale about the search for a magic cauldron, or kettle, for example, became a quest for the Christian Holy Grail. Another key influence was the medieval concept of chivalry, the code of conduct that inspired the courdy behavior of the Knights of the Round Table.
Numerous versions of the Arthurian legends were produced during the Middle Ages. French writer Chrétien de Troyes wrote poems on Arthurian subjects between 1155 and 1185. He focused on magic and marvels and introduced the theme of the quest for the Holy Grail. The Grail also inspired Wolfram von Eschenbach, a German who wrote his epic poem Parzival around 1200. Other romances of the period developed the character of Merlin and featured the romantic entanglement of Lancelot and Guinevere. (…)
https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/arthurian-legends
Perceval, hero of Arthurian romance, distinguished by his quality of childlike (often uncouth) innocence, which protected him from worldly temptation and set him apart from other knights in Arthur’s fellowship.
This quality also links his story with the primitive folktale theme of a great fool or simple hero. In Chrétien de Troyes’s poem Le Conte du Graal (12th century), Perceval’s great adventure was a visit to the castle of the wounded Fisher King, where he saw a mysterious dish (or grail) but, having previously been scolded for asking too many questions, failed to ask the question that would have healed the Fisher King.
Afterward, he set off in search of the Grail and gradually learned the true meaning of chivalry and its close connection with the teachings of the church. In later elaborations of the Grail theme, the pure knight Sir Galahad displaced him as Grail hero, though Perceval continued to play an important part in the quest.
The story of Perceval’s spiritual development from simpleton to Grail keeper received its finest treatment in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s great 13th-century epic, Parzival. This poem was the basis of Richard Wagner’s last opera, Parsifal (1882).
Hold a coherent speech on „The Values, Virtues, Ideals and Achievements of the Western Civilisation“ embracing all the three aspects: politics, history and myth.
Identify the ideas which connect them.
Read, Write, Think, Discuss
The three years during which President John F. Kennedy led the United States (1961-1963) are sometimes referred to as “Camelot.” Using your library, the Internet, or other available resources, research the brief but memorable administration of President John F. Kennedy.
Why do you think this administration was referred to as Camelot? What similarities or differences do you see between it and the Camelot of Arthurian legend? Are there elements, such as the fate of Arthur, that seem to be mirrored in these historical events?
Case Study (Harvard): King Arthur Flour
Steve Voigt, the CEO of King Arthur Flour, must determine how the company can continue to grow, whilst preserving its unique culture. In 1996, the company was sold to employees in as ESOP transaction. The following decade saw significant growth, despite declining sales for the industry as a whole. The success could be attributed both to the quality of the product and to the company culture, which treated employee-owners with respect and allowed them to meaningfully contribute to the future direction of the company. By 2006, King Arthur flour had grown from 60 employees to over 200 and Voigt was left questioning whether the unique culture, and ESOP structure, would continue to function as the company continued to expand.
https://store.hbr.org/product/king-arthur-flour/407012?sku=407012-PDF-ENG
1. Resolve the issue of the case above after having made a research on:
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com
2. The company website includes the following information:
1896
Our Flour Gets A Name: King Arthur
The Sands, Taylor, & Wood Company introduced its „new and improved“ flour at the Boston Food Fair, naming it King Arthur for its Arthurian attributes: „purity, loyalty, honesty, superior strength, and a dedication to a higher purpose.“
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/about/history
Interpret the Arthurian values of the company in relation to the Arthurian myth.
If necessary make more research.
In the hectic of modern times it may escape our attention that the order of values, virtues and ideals formed and still constitutes the foundation of the Western civilisation. It seems only reasonable to maintain it.
This is what this project intends to do: It should help recall the origin of this order inherent first in a pagan myth, in the classical thought, then in the christian religion and politics.
It should encourage the reflection on the achievements of the Western civilisation in any respect.
It should also imply the idea that ignoring the origin of a culture is like disregarding the importance of one´s own childhood, which plays a decisive role in one´s own biography.
It offers a set of examples including the word „value(s)“, which should not only demonstrate its usage in a context but should also encourage profound reflection on the issues conveyed.
