Playing With Plato April 2006
Discussions about and attempts to achieve greatness often falter because of conflicting concepts about the essence of greatness. Understanding and measuring greatness requires a common language for key concepts. We suggest revisiting Plato, who introduced three concepts for judging something’s worth: the true, the beautiful, and the good. Applying these criteria can help us discover new ways of achieving personal greatness.
Current concepts about greatness focus either on accomplishment or fame. As a result, instead of gaining deeper insight into human possibility, we’re often left feeling demoralized because we have not done enough, don’t have enough, or aren’t well known enough. Knowing that fame, glamour, and power will fade, it makes sense to turn our attention to what is true, beautiful, and good. “Conceptions of the good, true, and beautiful prevailing at any given time concretely affect how excellence manifests itself.” (Charles Murray, Human Accomplishment)
Both Plato and Aristotle defined the “good” as excellence in human-ness. Their concept embraced the greatest and finest aspects of what it means to be human (e.g., heroism, selflessness, creativity, joy). Employing this concept shifts the focus of greatness to an appreciation for internal development, i.e. how do I become a better woman or man.?
How would you define the “good” (excellence in human-ness) in your life? What does/would it look like? What are you doing to achieve it?
Identifying the “true” is equally challenging. We all know the concept, even if we disagree on its exact definition. For example, if we place all our daily news sources under the microscope of “truth,” it pierces the ambiguous nature of politics, sensationalism, innuendo, etc. and illuminates the tainted reality of much that we hear or read. In the same way, applying the “true” as we strive to achieve greatness should shift our focus to becoming more aware of whether and how true we are to ourselves, rather than what is fleeting. (For some of us this may require making time to discover who we are.)
What does the “true” look like in your life? How can you become more authentic in all that you say and do?
Finally, shifting our awareness to the beauty of things, simply as they are, challenges our current notions of the “beautiful.” Is there anything more beautiful than something being what it was created to be?
Can you identify the “beautiful” in you? How can you bring joy to everything you do every day?
Truth. Beauty. Goodness. These three concepts can shift our focus — and our actions — from exaggerated forms of societal excess to deeper and more universal truths. Embracing them invites us into self-examination and draws us closer to personal greatness.
The Greatness ProjectTM is researched and written by:
Scott Asalone & Jan Sparrow
Copyright © ASGMC, Inc. 2006