Structure of the Essay:
Introduction:
You can start the introduction through following ways:
- Start with a general introduction/an anecdote/an example/a short story/a poem/ etc. about Virtue and its importance.
- Define Virtue, Vice and Conscience through various philosophical theories and quotes from philosophers.
Thesis Statement:
- It is a transition statement between introduction and body of the essay.
- In thesis statement, you should write outline of the body with your own arguments. You should prove these arguments in body of the essay with relevant examples.
Body of the essay:
- Discuss the Virtues which people need in their day-to-day life
- Example: Nonviolence, Honesty etc
- Discuss the vices people have
- Examples: Dishonesty, Intoxication etc
- Explain why people try to find with vices rather than virtues
- Quicker resolution
- Can make an enemy fearful in the short term.
- Achievement of personal goals – power, money etc
- Explain how virtue is not subjected to conscience. Quote examples (examples help in explaining)
- Example – Charity is a virtuous act. Individual conscience promotes the act of helping others. The extreme of charity (as it has no subjection to individual conscience) can make one poor.
- Social Conscience promotes Virtues.
- Explain why virtue is more to be feared than vice?
- Gives self-belief and immense strength.
- Example: Mahatma Gandhi fought for Freedom of India with virtues such as non-violence, truth etc and because his conscience was clear he was able to fight British strongly.
- Help people relate with your cause.
- Example: Mass of India related to the methods of Gandhi because they don’t want to do violence against their conscience.
- Makes the enemy doubt their own conscience.
- Sustainable achievement of goals. Etc
- Open doors for peaceful coexistence, democracy and peace.
- Gives self-belief and immense strength.
- Explain how such virtues can be developed.
- Value education from early childhood.
- Role of family, school and peers.
- Incentivizing virtues deeds and punishing vices.
- Modeling oneself on any virtues role model. etc
Conclusion:
- Conclude with an optimistic attitude towards Virtues but also mention how an excess of virtues, due to no subjugation to conscience, can be detrimental