Final answer:
Without a virtuous society, individuals cannot achieve true happiness, which is seen as dependent on the cultivation of virtues rather than superficial gains. The politics of virtue emphasizes the need for virtuous behavior in citizens to maintain a republic's survival and is tied to the well-being of society as a whole. Philosophical and historical examples demonstrate the importance of civic virtue and its impact on government and liberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals without a virtuous society are thought to suffer because they are unable to attain true happiness, which is often based on temporary and superficial gains rather than virtuous actions. The politics of virtue is concerned with the formation of good citizens through the cultivation of virtues essential for a well-functioning republic.
This includes traits like bravery, integrity, humility, and kindness. The idea that virtuous behavior of citizens is crucial for the survival of the republic is a key aspect of this political theory, as showcased in historical examples like ancient Greece and the early United States.
According to Hobbes, without such a society, people would live in a "state of nature," which could result in a chaotic environment where the strong prevail at the expense of the weak.
Aristotle and other philosophers asserted that virtuous living and the role of a citizen within a political society are interconnected. The goal of human beings is to live a good life, which necessitates living virtuously, and this in turn requires the support of a society that promotes virtue.
Moreover, the founders of the United States believed that liberty is contingent upon the exercise of civic virtues by the people, a sentiment echoed in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights.