An Ancient Text’s Advice For Being A Better Human In Today’s World
Why resume and eulogy virtues are needed to build a better soul
“And someone can give a speech towards the end of the ceremony.”
My brother’s wife said the words above like a question, looking for an answer or volunteer. Immediately it filled me with a kind of dread, because inside I knew I’d be the one standing in front of a crowded room and giving that speech myself. I didn’t accept immediately.
But something already told me it was a certainty, and my brain started writing the speech.
My brother’s sudden death came as a shock to everyone. It also left me searching for ways to compress the view of a person I’d known for over forty years into a six-minute eulogy acceptable to a building filled with family, friends, and acquaintances.
Intuitively, I knew no one would care about how much money he made, what kind of vehicle he drove, or how much he could bench press.
They’d want to hear about his character. So, as author and commentator David Brooks described a concept in his book The Road to Character, I understood exactly what he meant before he explained it. Brooks says there are two common virtues: resume virtues and eulogy virtues.
The author says resume virtues can be easily quantified — as in “increased productivity 30%,” “PhD in chemical engineering,” or “proficient in Python programming language.”
By nature, they’re practical. So, knowledge of resume virtue “A” gives you the ability to get “B” as an outcome or reward.
But eulogy virtues are different. According to Brooks, they “exist at the core of your being — whether you are kind, brave, honest, or faithful…What kind of relationships you form.” In other words, they can’t be quantified.
While this is an interesting introspection into life, Brooks went further, delving into an ancient story. The tale shows both these virtues were a part of humanity from the beginning, and each can be balanced to form a complete soul. Moreover, the story should be familiar to you.
The Two Adams
Brooks references The Lonely Man of Faith, written by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik in 1965. The text explains the first two chapters of Genesis give stark different versions of Adam. Soloveitchik refers to them as Adam I and Adam II.
In the first chapter, Adam is instructed to conquer nature and use his knowledge to improve mankind’s lot. Adam I is utilitarian — even in relationships. Brooks compares this to resume virtues because Adam I wants to “build, create, and discover things. He wants to have high status and win victories.”
Chapter two changes format. Adam II is told to preserve the Garden of Eden and “it is not good for man to be alone.” This Adam sacrifices and submits to God. Brooks associates this with eulogy virtues, and Adam II is “the internal Adam.”
This Adam works with inverse logic.
He achieves strength by surrendering to something external.
His drivers are “moral,” not “economic.”
While Adam I wants to rule the world, Adam II wants to serve it.
So, they’re two very different sides of the same coin. Brooks says, “We live in a contradiction between these two Adams…We are forever caught in self-confrontation.”
But here’s the magic part: both Adams are necessary. Moreover, when in balance, the two forces work to make an extraordinary individual with a complete soul.
History has a few examples of this.
Balancing Adam I And Adam II
“He was respected by his patron, admired by his peers, loved by his adopted son.
— “Miyamoto Musashi: A Life In Arms”, William de Lange
Times change but each society has criterion for success, and the framing for Adam I. Being a samurai, Miyamoto Musashi reached its apex. As a wandering rōnin with no home, he defeated sixty men in one-on-one combat.
He also fought successfully in wars, created his own school of sword-fighting, and was given the honorary title of Kensei (sword saint).
Likewise, Marcus Aurelius reached the peak of Roman society by being chosen to become Emperor of Rome in a succession plan at an early age. So, he didn’t inherit the throne. His abilities in the Roman court attracted enough attention to merit his succession. Talk about Adam I.
However, both men balanced their resume virtues with eulogy virtues — which is what we know them for today.
Musashi eventually avoided duels, created beautiful art, taught others the skill of the sword, found a patron and home. He even adopted a son. In his final act, he penned A Book Of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho), a book on life strategy for future generations, dressed up as a sword-fighting manual.
In it, he encourages readers to “achieve victory over yourself of yesterday,” before you try to conquer others. Similarly, Marcus found clarity in writing.
His diary, Meditations, is a continual written struggle with himself to be a better human being, avoid anger, and be one with the universe around him. Consider it a workbook for his philosophy of Stoicism — an endless Adam II exercise. Inevitably, it also became a gift for future generations.
In his book he chides himself to “waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
Unfortunately, as Brooks points out, we’ve lost the way to this balance by overly focusing on Adam I. But it’s fixable.
Building Eulogy Virtues And Keeping A Balance
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Brooks says it’s logical that Adam I values are so desired and praised, because their benefits and rewards are easy to see. But too much makes us egotistical; lonely as well.
However, Adam II or eulogy virtues are a tougher sale because instead of “harnessing our strengths,” they force you to “confront your weaknesses.” They also can’t be taught in a classroom.
These virtues must be learned from examples and applied to your life. Brooks does this in his book. He has endless examples of famous people throughout history who were stellar teachers of a particular virtue. But also victims of vice.
While each had failings, their great qualities are worthy of imitation. And this is the path to Adam II: we need heroes.
Unfortunately, today it’s popular to trash every possible role model, focusing on each ugly part of their life. But as Seneca reminds us, “there is the need for someone against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler, you won’t make the crooked straight.”
But even Adam II can go too far, and this is the secret Soloveitchik pointed out so long ago described in Genesis. To be complete, we need a mixture of resume and eulogy virtues — both Adam I and II.
In fact, while I did describe many of my brother’s Adam II qualities, resume virtues did also work their way into the eulogy. In essence, they were impossible to leave out.
The speech included sports victories, stories of diligence in work, along with examples of being an excellent friend, kindness, and humor. After all, both sets of virtues are needed to build a better soul.
So, despite our digital age, an ancient text still provides good advice for being a better human in today’s world.
-Originally posted on Medium 7/27/23