Virtue ethics, which can be traced back in western thought to the works of Plato and Aristotle, can be defined as an ethical approach that emphasises the character of the agent. Whereas consequentialism emphasises the consequences of the action (for example J. S. Mill’s utilitarianism), and deontological ethics the rules that one may follow (for example Kant’s categorical imperative, or the Ten Commandments), virtue ethics define a virtuous act by a certain virtue in the agent, such as benevolence or generosity.

Virtue ethics is not in conflict with deontological or consequentialist approaches, and can even be reconciled with them. The action driven by virtue ethics actually precedes the other two approaches: while deontological ethics or consequentialism addresses what is to be done in any given situation, virtue ethics focuses on the ways to develop certain virtues, or character patterns, in order to act well when needed. The main problem for virtue ethics, then, is 1) to define which virtues are desirable, and 2) how to develop them.

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The purpose of life? To reach perfection, Ostad Elahi answers. To lead your soul to maturity, a state in which you perfectly control your impulses while respecting your very nature. A state that is the prime condition of inner freedom. Granted, perfection is to be attained, but how? Through action, Ostad Elahi insists, and he reminds us that in this matter as in many others, “practice makes perfect.” For while thinking and talking may awaken the desire to change and may help us find ways that can lead to this change, contemplating a virtue is not enough to actually develop one. It is imperative that action take over from words and lead to practice. But not just any kind of practice.

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The Sunday mornings of my childhood had been blessed by the wondrous events of the life of Jesus Christ – unreal though they seemed. In later years, having burnt my bridges, while I found myself confronted with inner tensions and outer aggressions, excerpts from those sacred texts came back to me and I realized how spiritually significant they were, still potent and as relevant as ever. Concerning forgiveness, for example, let’s consider the startling prayer of Christ on the cross, addressing God : “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”.

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