Is The Pursuit of Glory a Virtue or a Vice?
Philosopher Agnes Callard writes
Most people do not understand that the pursuit of status (or “honor,” or “glory,” or whatever you call it) is altruistic.
But Tolstoy understands this.
Which raises several questions:
Is the pursuit of status or glory always just a socially acceptable form of “people pleasing”?
Is being a “people pleaser” just the negative term for being altruistic?
Do you agree with Tolstoy’s distinction between living for glory and living for oneself?
What word would you use to describe a life that is indifferent to social status, honor, glory? Faith? Authenticity? Selfishness? Belief in oneself? Madness?
What does your reaction to Callard/Tolstoy and this post tell you about your own bias regarding living for the positive feedback of others?