[inaudible conversations] it is the virtue. I am delighted you can make it easier to night. As a fellow from the American Enterprise institute and host thank you for coming. Of the thesis of this book the seven deadly virtues the classic virtues have all grown out of fashion. No greater proof of this thesis comes in the form of the book the seven deadly virtues has 18 virtues under discussion that great minds may of how to live a virtuous life. Of all things subsidies simplicitys simplicity. Why did he use three of them . So that america goes to hell in a handbasket and found 58 percent of American People believe that america is going to hell in a handbasket, mack those who think theyre going bad but not headed to haitis and jenrette though worse is yet to come. One of my a heros hearer he was watching the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing in his office. At one point Arlen Specter specter, said the judge turns off the tv to say the end of western civilization and he tepe drag from the cigarette and said of course, is the and but that does not need you cannot live well. [laughter] so in that spirit i will turn things over to the editor of this wonderful book and perhaps if we are lucky he will explain why wilson is on the cover of this book. Thank you very much. [laughter] [applause] thanks jonah and also to susan for doing this book. Rating is hard and not a lot of fun but i had so much fun doing it. I will never write a real book again. When you get to do all the writing yourself and then you sit back to say look at the books that i wrote. Also thinks to api for hosting tonight and also jonah and his contribution to the book. He writes on virtues as a way he writes about super heroes or cartoons or star trek with his sexual intensity. [laughter] so before that i will tell you about our book the lady you are quite familiar with whole series from 1993 became a National Debt a National Best seller that every parent the been the hospital should be given a copy of this. Overtures virtues you could talk about without being embarrassed with the world has changed a great deal since then. Even the politicians are dumped out onto the internet every weekend. And people are tempted to say we lost our virtues to society. Theyre just different sorts some of you may remember Donald Sterling former owner of the clippers Basketball Team one of the most reviled meant in america. Because he said racist thoughts. But there is a lesson somewhere but he is condemned on television and radio and president of United States. Skiddy holds a press conference and then the nba office now and remarked as he carries on an affair in public cheating on his wife of 50 years. The original Scarlett Letter for adultery but this is for racism. You could even say they are puritanical. But it changes and virtues. She pointed out in one of her books to express judgment on sexual matters you cannot just say this part or that part. At the same time we have a complicated moral framework that there is a shift that one of the high points is moderation. With that of virtue that we all strive for. To look at the modern virtues freedom, of progress , a quality, authenticity theyre all actually a good. And they are superficial. Is a good to be healthy inauthentic . And that brings us to the question which virtue is best . Summerlike the tiles will pretend that we dont do what they do it anyway. You probably know my friends already but i will introduce an just the same. So from the Public Policy center from a stage hand screen and rob will defend justice and said reagan into comments or the panel . Senate that a great detail rourke than the rest of the group rose say why they are full of it. So they will decide the king of the virtues and knew it really is like if it is Richard Dawson playing family feud. And james i now suggest tell us what is so great about temperance . What i wrote about the book was simplicity. Simplicity is a virtue. So not because of a antinations but in excess of moderation. As a passive aggressive lutheran midwesterners to keep the progression at bay. Everything in moderation. With cheese steaks and brandies and dancing girls . You cannot say if you are accused of cannibalism and only three the trade to make my case one is moderation and speech. But i have been in temperature rating on the internet i said things i wish i did not say. Once i said if i was in a room and gave back to into a hatpin and popped up with like to see it. People said it was cruel to comment on his opinion. But still and then with they walked in to say with the civil dialogue. It is up moderation of opinion because i used to have a reputation who got everybody together on a common subject and everything we could agree on. It kept me from defending my own at the end of the evening we could say we have learned something. We agree that a rose by undemocratic means and we would agree on something but so what . If you dont have Common Ground after 9 11 ive lost a number of friends and i would not concede anything to the other side. The the other side says i wanted to be destroyed to cannot say so the moderation of opinion works when you have something you can share together that is the most the moderation of action because people pray against each other all the time. I come from a place where people are calling so that brings us to the parable. On the way out here he is right in front of it and is about the science over here and then the first thing he pushes the button and then you act like it is the ball but i mention i would agree to them. I am not a big fan. But i typed in like this and i cannot move. Moderation says there are two things. I cannot find where i am. And and is sick how about we work this out . That it is the duration of the flight. That is moderate action. So he did not do that at all. I dont think he slipped one weekend i was happy about that. [applause] i got the Bumper Sticker virtue. So i have the virtue of fellowship that we will talk about on shuffleboard but i think it is more interesting because you practice or you are not before a bunch of people in extreme danger what will happen . Theyve made display hurlock courage on the battlefield or enthusiastic acts of cannibalism. And one of the things talking about fellowship today we use it to ally ourselves. Think of those that are intolerant like Airport Security or gluten this is what we could form of a group together about something else. And this shows once you are part of these groups the ideological rigor is required i will state my cells but thank you. [laughter] bring them into the fold. So it is clear. [laughter] is very big in china in fact, if you go to a chinese bar they play going home to get people to leave. Then they all start to leave [laughter] so people play a very important role. And he went to hong kong recently in the ticket innocent walk but he took a selfie in front of a group of democracy protesters. This anger the Chinese Government that declared him the infidel. So you think he has the fellowships of people that admire him in china what will he do . He broke in the unspoken rule so like in celebrity fashion i do not like democracy always taking a walk so fault alicia as the dark side in dramas doing my Scholarly Research for the article they spent a lot of time on the justin beeper fan site again it is pretty rigorous. And that will completely fall flat after you tweets your friends right now but we debased the french ships we have followers we spend our lives of line with our friends the those are not real french ships we have anonymous handbills that we used. But i will summon up that there are existential questions thinking of fellowship and friendship in the real world the way we played out online what is friendship . I think we should show up moderately consume alcohol and talk to each other face to face. And connect to each other in meaningful ways. And then speak to this issue with the kardashian falls in the woods and does not take a selfie does it really happen . [laughter] [applause] people are terrible. And you cannot get away from them . Honestly am so tired coming to these events and hearing about this. [laughter] key is the unofficial mascot. [laughter] but i will begin whenever i speak publicly by telling the hollywood anecdote is nobody knows if it is true or not. The to have that additional benefit to be true of few years ago the number four spot was the lowest in the on to the intellectual property for the 6 million man. Of french and a great idea of a billion dollar man and played by the majors played at the time it goes that of course, the federal funding had been cut and the government was on the v. A. Plan. It was great to go to the network president. And he pitched in the room and it was a 30 minute pitch great story and the president said that is great it will be fantastic. No. [laughter] but the majors was a total jerk to me. Just saying thats what happens why justice is the best of a virtue because these are unique virtues. Justice is something that you do to somebody else and you can do a hard. Lazore it is justice. Justice is the eyes of the former hollywood assistant to be treated and insulted to become an executive with his or her former boss to pitch their wares at the people they thought like to them. And it was the former intern that was never properly thanked for those leaves of grass. [laughter] that is why justice affects virtue. It is the back alley pay booked which is why it is the best. Justice also reminds the intern to stick with it it will all be worth it. [laughter] [applause] in my chapter is the cover article for National Review. Just to verify your paid twice . [laughter] but as you well know from National Review that is not. [laughter] but my book chapter was integrity. It is very telling from what i can hear but my colleagues picked their virtues first and jonathan said where is yours . And in fact, get of version of that every day. With all we have left is chastity is like showing up at the end of the day fire sale likely would it makes mad at each the fake velvet track suit i did not want to ask todays a like a scholar in Good Standing the wintus the enter webster looked at the list of virtues on with the pds and i found continents as the opposite of incontinent. And the four for most expert on virtues is that even relate a virtue . So why pay common sport continents for a couple of reasons. Everyone takes dogs and scotch and cigars perhaps the biggest source of joy is a knowing rob with star trek preferences. So actually that play is the big part in book number seven of aristotles ethics which like most people i spend the afternoon reading very closely. And continents is defined as the ability to deny yourself pleasurable body functions. I will make three points about this that i think our vital. [laughter] first, in this age of ebola. [laughter] the ability to control bodily fluids and discharge is perhaps never more important. [laughter] [applause] i can barely hear that. And unlike chastity or honesty continents is a multibilliondollar industry. When you only look at the commercials in japan over the next 10 years Adult Diapers will outsold baby diapers. That depends. [laughter] but to recycle the adult diaper joke that was already made. And most important the definition of conservatism but human nature has no history. Way are all built from that group did timber of humanity the only thing that separates us is what we call civilization so that every team is invaded by barbarians. We call them children. So the essence of conservatism is to take them with that first virtue is continents. Anybody who denies this where there were very bad parents. [laughter] schaede ability to deny a bodily functions to inappropriate sexual gratification such as the event broadcast on cspan with the minimum requirements of civilization and aristotle says courage is the greatest virtue. Instead of nonsense. As is so often jonah is right and aristotle is wrong. And without continents the ability to keep animal desires and imposes it checked we are perhaps all Charlie Sheen and otherwise. Thank you very much. [applause] then she was worried about me having john l. [laughter] jonah. Everyone tells the virtue of hope is down the rabbit hole of wishful thinking. It was not always so faint of the word their roots meaning of hope is expectation of things desired with the book of common prayer for their presiding minister says this certain hope of resurrection he does not mean wouldnt it be nice . But it is out of artistic fashion for more than a century it is hard to think of a great modern novel or a play. The first line of the wasteland for instance instance, excuse me thomas did the Easter Bunnys get the eliot household . Said great gatsby concludes to declare sewing oats against those into the pass to smack into the back no doubt when there was no hope. Now trousseau last words of dialogue with the death of a salesman we are free. Just to beat fashionably aaronic. To talk about that final mortgage payment was made. With the apocalyptic movies working on the apocalyptic remix. Gold endangered species no go the deal may person left conoco so what will i do know. Which brings us back to conoco then we do this over and over again. [applause] you are right and you are wrong. Everybody would be eating segments with planet of the apes. But then again in the late 70s to come along with the optimistic cando spirit is that happy ending. Every single piece of Popular Culture fed today sessile the collapse of everything the hunger games games, and as all predicated on the future to view the upper class to have the most technologically addicted the greatest generation to ever produce but hunger games was easily the least exciting movie of children fighting to the death. [laughter] it is never the children you once. [laughter] i am of a huge fan although i dont love my daughter to find out what were watching. We have to come up with longer and longer latin phrases she cannot understand. But the walking dead are problem solvers. It is like Michael Keats in with a hatchet. It is the ambulatory shrieking creature like a knife to the eyeball again and again and again. Sometimes why am i watching this . With that recent Plot Development to deal with a guy sitting with you in front of the pudding. But it seems the group has found themselves a sanctuary that may not be as it seems. Any others will we are here . But it is also about fellowship of people who knew come together whenever desperate elements that they have. How do these fellowships told . They dont make those comments to each other. But you dont say that youre tired. Guide that obeyed more like honker games tearing each others heads off. But here is why. We feature there might come a time when we appear again spin again we have to ask each other for a guide. [laughter] that is what keeps us all in line. Alternately that is the argument. Please and thank you. Just go. With the Armed Society is a polite society. That may not be justice but just out of curiosity . You can try. [laughter] do i have to answer that . [laughter] there is not one. This is why he is so attractive. But lets get the majors. Maybe that was the battle starts collecting data. But i cannot see this 6 million man . But this is my argument for concealed carry. In the bible it says payback is mine. Meaning that you should not wait. [laughter] because if you wait is that. And timing is everything. One of the virtues is courage and is not on display. But he is practicing moderation. What . [laughter] that is an important question. So then it is watched this. And it is interesting watching him eight says she grows up and worries about everything. But will not stay at of power. But just to watch him develop. Those absolutely have no imagination whatsoever. Then i figure out what would go wrong but then it is just the of fearlessness but even to frame that it is smart. That i have that irrational fear. That is where people talk about that. It is stupid. [laughter] in a bicycle helmet world. Everything is mitigated. With the orange bucket that is covered. In spite of warning me to use the bucket. But i actually fill the bucket with a little bit of water and i tried to drown myself just to see. I got a little lightheaded. [laughter] i am just a with the image. Though we could not figure out. In a completely sanitized world in a parallel bucket disclaimer. Deal not see that . No. But absolutely i could not agree more. There is the table for those are allergic to groundnuts or treatments. And if you have to have a normal child. [laughter] then when you fill up the papers they ask you what its. [laughter] when my daughter was younger she is 11 now the first or second grade at school drop off every morning to come up with another shocking piece of advice i could shout to her. I remember the head of the school i would deal dont smoke crack. Again . No knife fights. [laughter] is thus we to little girl with dora the explorer backpack. It reminds her that i raise my kids in the 1950s but i grew up in new york i remember having piles of garbage then we would have the contest to see how elaborate we could get. That is complete the gone from almost everything i have. I am sorely tempted to give him a bone knife and antibiotics and bandages to leave her someplace. I thought it was grazed my daughter is 14 and if it was like hannibal lector i would stick in the backseat. Then the Highway Department said if the kid sits in the front with her legs like this is the air bag those of the will send her kneecaps into her nose into her brain. So dont do that. Not realizing when i grew up by sat in the front seat with us dash board that had plastic over it with an average so i was looking at a scalping device fitted my mothers lamp on the brakes it would be separated. But i never worried that we would stop suddenly my mother would do this because there were no seatbelts. [laughter] but he is not with us anymore. [laughter] it is the sense of humor. There are 1 million virtues in the world today but the virtues of not realizing there are sensitivities that i live in a city, of minneapolis that a buy selected a bicyclist comes and says on your left. [laughter] i agree it is a good thing to do maybe not a organi