Language is an interesting thing. As any student of language can attest, a word often doesn't mean just one, narrow thing. There is often a broad semantic range that gives a richness of meaning. For example, the word love in English refers to an affection toward a particular person or thing. I can use it to describe my posture toward my wife, my kids, a close friend, or my favorite pastime. In each context it takes on a certain nuance. In the former, it describes a deep bond that I share with my wife. In the later it describes an enjoyment of an activity.
The ancient Greeks had a word in their language which we translate today as excellence. This term was "Arete." We typically define excellence in reference to some superlative quality. We describe food as excellent if it is really good, a book as excellent if we find it inspiring or insightful. We commend someone's performance as excellent if they exceeded a certain standard. Similarly, to the Greeks, Arete represented the highest quality of a thing.
However, to the Greeks, Arete also meant much more than that. The superlative extended beyond surface level. It represented the pursuit of virtue and the fulfillment of one's purpose. Arete was used by Homer to describe Odysseus and Achilles. It was pondered in the philosophical works of Plato and Aristotle. And it was used in biblical text by Paul to describe our life and conduct. To the Greeks, Arete was an ethos. It transcended the mundane in pursuit of a divine ideal.
Fast forward to today, this idea of Arete can serve as a guiding light, a reference standard, a goal to achieve as we walk our path. Arete can become our ethos, our mission. A mission implies a goal to achieve and then action to turn that goal into reality.
Sun Zu wrote, "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." As we seek to live well, we need to have a clear understanding of our mission, strategy and tactics - in that order. The mission gives us an assignment and a purpose. It answers the questions of what and why. But that needs to followed with strategy and tactics that elaborate the when, where and how. So as we think about our lives, we need an Arete mission, a strategy and tactics.
Mission --> Strategy --> Tactics
In the next few posts, we will define the strategy and tactics of Arete. But today, the mission. Why pursue excellence?
Why Excellence
It represents God's character
Arete is used as a characteristic to describe God. The apostle Peter in his letter to the scattered believers writes, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9)
In this context Peter is exhorting the believers to right living based on God's redemptive work that was accomplished on their behalf. The excellencies of God are then a reference to God's grace and mercy that has been demonstrated throughout the entire span of redemptive history.
Peter uses Arete again of God in 2 Peter. He writes, " His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3). By equating God with arete, he establishes a definition and a standard for excellence. To know see God and to know God is to see and to know excellence.
Peter continues his thought in 2 Peter 1 and links the excellence of God to how we should live. Verse 4 indicates that we are "partakers of the divine nature." Elsewhere in scripture we are described as being created in God's image (Genesis 1:26). As image bearers, we then reflect the character and work of God in the same way that an emissary would reflect the character and work of his or her country. Peter completes the link in verse 5. He writes, "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue(excellence), and virtue (excellence) with knowledge..." (2 Peter 1:5). Since God is Arete we are then to reflect that Arete in our own lives.
Paul reinforces this idea in his letter to the Philippian church. In the concluding exhortations of this letter, he provides a list of characteristics that should represent how we filter our conduct. He writes, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8).
Supported and defined by the character of God, both Peter and Paul call us to pursue excellence.
Reflects the Highest calling in Life
Peter calls us to pursue excellence as a reflection of God's character. Paul includes excellence as basis for proper conduct. Aristotle continues the discussion of excellence as a fundamental component of eudaimonia.
For the Greeks, eudaimonia represented the idea of happiness, well-being, and flourishing. Aristotle believed that eudaimonia was the highest good of human existence. This idea has even trickled down into the American ethos. In our Declaration of Independence, Jefferson writes, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (eudaimonia)."
Aristotle links the idea of eudaimonia with the idea of arete. Happiness and fulfillment are found in the pursuit of excellence or virtuous living. While this is true in a theological and moral sense, this is also true in a very practical sense. Every endeavor we face has its own set of virtues or characteristics that represent the most excellent or ideal form of that thing.
Therefore, meaning and fulfillment (eudaimonia), are cultivated in knowing your mission and pursuing that with excellence.
Fulfills the Transcendentals
The final reason that we should pursue excellence is that is the fulfillment of the transcendentals. What do I mean by the transcendentals? Well, that will be the substance of our next post - the Arete Strategy.
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