Final answer:
The book 'The Saint' highlights the importance of benevolence, empathy, perseverance, faith, and the power of community, reflecting Confucian ethics and its emphasis on relational and community-centric virtues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lessons from 'The Saint' by Tade Adegbindin can be distilled into several moral and ethical virtues. These lessons are rooted in the relational and community-driven nature of Confucian ethics, which contrasts with Western ethics that often focus more on individual rights and freedoms. In the text, multiple aspects are highlighted, such as the importance of benevolence, the need for empathy, the value of perseverance, faith, and the power of community.
Benevolence runs as an underlying virtue through the narrative, emphasizing how personal actions should contribute positively to relationships and the larger community. Empathy allows individuals to connect and understand the feelings and perspectives of others. The value of perseverance is shown through examples of characters enduring hardships without losing hope, thereby moving beyond suffering. Michelangelo's perspective on saints sewing the seeds of faith illustrates how steadfast belief in one's values is crucial, even under extreme duress. Lastly, by drawing on principles from community psychology practice and the power of community, the text suggests that engagement, humility, and social change are key components of a functioning society.