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The Eight Virtues (of Ultima)

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 11:59 am
by Nefastos
Has anyone come across the Eight Virtues system of the old Ultima video roleplaying games? I haven't played those as much I'd like, but whenever I see this system, I am in awe by its brilliance. Is it based on a real life model? If so, that escapes me.

Since I am a lover of schematic systems that help and not hinder creativity, this multidimensional system of virtues really electrifies me. It presents the three basic virtues of Truth (compare to manas and truthfulness), Love (compare to buddhi) and Courage (compare to âtma and personal effort), and from their unions deduces three combined virtues of Justice (Truth & Love), Sacrifice (Love & Courage), and Honour (Courage & Truth). The three virtues together stand for Spirituality, whose seeming opposite but actual composite virtue is (tantric) Humility.

From Truth comes Honesty.
From Love comes Compassion.
From Courage comes Valour.
Truth and Love combined create Justice.
Love and Courage combined create Sacrifice.
Courage and Truth combined create Honour.
From Truth, Love, and Courage comes Spirituality.
Pride is caused by the absence of the Three Principles, the opposite of Pride is Humility.


A diagram

Re: The Eight Virtues (of Ultima)

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:37 am
by obnoxion
Very appealing schema. I think this is an enlightening context to assess the virtuosity of humility and courage. These two are, I feel, especially misunderstood virtues in our times.