More on Moral Virtue

 

More on Moral Virtue

Peter Schultz

 

A bit more from Valentine’s book, The CIA as Organized Crime: “One senses that the abuse they [the CIA in Vietnam and elsewhere] …. heaped on their victims …. forever warped their souls.” (254)

             Which is to say: their moral virtue warped their souls. Now there’s a phenomenon not often commented upon.

 
             “They no longer need[ed] to psych themselves up to dehumanize their imaginary enemies; it [was] second nature to them.”

              Their moral virtue allows for, recommends, is identical with “inhuman cruelty.” Which is what Machiavelli argued made for Hannibal’s greatness. Another phenomenon not often commented upon.