This may be related to the requirement (in the culture with which I am familiar) to apologize for or to be ashamed of intellectual excellence and firmness. Excellence raises the bar. Evidence of physical excellence is immediate. Evidence of moral excellence and evidence of intellectual excellence must be mediated. Many are thus convinced that there is no natural measure of moral excellence or intellectual excellence, but only culturally-defined measures. The lower the culturally-defined bar, the greater number of individuals included in the excellent range. Such a design is flawed in that it diminishes the impetus to strive (i.e., apply a greater than baseline effort) for greater moral or greater intellectual achievement and therefore hinders progress. Conversely, the higher the culturally-defined bar, the greater the probability that some form of moral excellence or intellectual excellence not included in the culturally-defined spectrum will be under-expressed.
The concept of character is related to that of a conventional graphic symbol; if and when humans become able to detect a natural indication of moral excellence, the idea of character in the second sense may become obsolete.
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Etymology of character (from the Online Etymology Dictionary)
c.1315, from O.Fr. caractere, from L. character, from Gk. kharakter "engraved mark," from kharassein "to engrave," from kharax "pointed stake." Meaning extended by metaphor to "a defining quality." Perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti "to scratch".
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Definition of character (from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
1a: a conventionalized graphic device placed on an object as an indication of ownership, origin, or relationship
b: a graphic symbol (as a hieroglyph or alphabet letter) used in writing or printing
c: a magical or astrological emblem
d: alphabet
e(1): writing, printing (2): style of writing or printing (3): cipher
f: a symbol (as a letter or number) that represents information; also : a representation of such a character that may be accepted by a computer
2 a: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual
b(1): a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories; also : a group or kind so separated "advertising of a very primitive character" (2): the detectable expression of the action of a gene or group of genes (3): the aggregate of distinctive qualities characteristic of a breed, strain, or type "a wine of great character"
c: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation "the character of the American people"
d: main or essential nature especially as strongly marked and serving to distinguish "excess sewage gradually changed the character of the lake"
3: position, capacity "his character as a town official"
4: reference 4b
5: reputation "the scandal has damaged his character and image"
6: moral excellence and firmness "a man of sound character"
7a: a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits "quite a character"
b: one of the persons of a drama or novel
c: the personality or part which an actor recreates "an actress who can create a character convincingly"
d: characterization especially in drama or fiction
e: person, individual "a suspicious character"
8: a short literary sketch of the qualities of a social type
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VIA Character
