Seeking honor is a double-edged sword – from ancient Greece to samurai Japan, thinkers have wrestled with whether it’s the way to virtue

Though they lived centuries apart, Aristotle and Tsunetomo both explored what it means to live virtuously, and the risks of wanting praise or recognition.

By: Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 8, 2026

Words: 1,337

Last Updated: 1 day, 7 hours ago

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By Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College

Pete Hegseth, the current defense secretary, has stressed what he calls the “warrior ethos,” while other Americans seem to have embraced a renewed interest in “warrior culture.”

Debate about these concepts actually traces back for thousands of years. Thinkers have long wrestled with what it means to be a true “warrior,” and the proper place of honor and virtue on the road to becoming one. I study …

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