The Virtue of Truthfulness and the Vices of Boastfulness and Self-Deprecation

Excess: Boastfulness

Mean: Truthfulness

Deficiency: Self-Deprecation or

Claims good qualities or achievements for oneself

Claims good qualities or achievements for oneself

Does not claim, or downplays and disparages,

which he or she does not possess

which he or she possesses in lesser degree

which one actually does possess.

Putting Oneself Down

good qualities or achievements for oneself.

Does not engage in exaggeration or understatement

about ones own good qualities or achievements

Foolish people lie about their own merits because

they enjoy lying not to get anything else

If diverges from the truth, will tend to downplaying,

since this seems in better taste, less offensive

(perhaps will simply leave it to others to bring some

Other Boasters lie

matters up in conversation)

in order to gain reputation or honor

gain them money pretend

perhaps dont see it as shameful

Values self-image or other goods gained through

boasting more highly than truth

Affected people disown or downplay low-value

Falsely Humble people make a show of putting

accomplishments useful to others

better than one actually is. Some enjoy lying,

through Irony not as bad a disposition

they are most contemptible

in order to get money or things that will

Desires to see oneself and to have others see one as

qualities held in high esteem like Socrates,

qualities, or those which they obviously have so

pretend to qualities praised and admired

Some avoid showiness, disown or downplay

themselves down like the Spartans

Is a lover of truth (philalths), truthful even when

May genuinely value self, qualities, achievements

Holds lying and falsehood to be shameful, base , bad,

Values something (perhaps security,

nothing is at stake, to be gained or lost

would find lying painful

too low.

relationships, leisure) more highly than truth

Deals with truthfulness and falsehood in words, actions, and self-assessment about ones good or bad qualities, achievements

(not about matters where truthfulness or falsehood is a matter of justice or injustice e.g. business relations, political matters, etc.)

Copyright: Dr. Gregory B. Sadler 2012