Is ambition a virtue?

[Snowflake]

am·bi·tion n.

1. a. An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power.
b. The object or goal desired
2. Desire for exertion or activity; energy

de·sire (the noun)

1. A wish or longing.
2. A request or petition.
3. The object of longing.
4. Sexual appetite; passion

Plants do not have desires. Nor ambitions.

[Al B. Sure!]

plants have the desire to live. if they did not, then would they live?

[Snowflake]

Plants do not have conciousness. They live not because they desire to live. Just like that stone. It is there not because it wants to be there. It is just there.

[Al B. Sure!]

a plants continues to photosynthesize despite having no drive to live? why?

[Snowflake]

It's a long story. You've heard the evolution theory right?

[Al B. Sure!]

survival is a desired goal
desired goals are ambitions
survival is an ambition

[Urban Ranger]

Survival is not a goal. A goal requires a conscious decision. I don't think you need to ask yourself, "Do I need to survive?" when you take every breath. It happens automatically. It's the same way plants conduct photosynthesis.

[Al B. Sure!]

i get attacked by someone out to kill me. I run. Survival is my goal.

gazelle being stalked by lions... the lions attack, the gazelle run. Survival is their goal.

survival doesnt have to be as involuntary as breathing.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
i get attacked by someone out to kill me. I run. Survival is my goal.

gazelle being stalked by lions... the lions attack, the gazelle run. Survival is their goal.

survival doesnt have to be as involuntary as breathing.

A gazelle does not have any conscious decision making abilities. Thus, survival is not a goal.

I doubt that you would just stand there and decide whether you want to survive first before you run, either.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't think ambition could exist w/out boredom. I know the basic human desire for food, shelter and clothing also drive ambition, but those who have strived the highest did not lack those things.

Right, but what about someone in the middle? Their ambition might be for some rather staid goals like a house and a car to support a family.

I don't think they are bored with nothing to do but strive for something else.

[Ben Kenobi]

How the hell could ambition be anything but a positive? It is the driving force in humanity that has allowed us to raise ourselves up from mere animals. Anyone who is not ambitious is less of a human.

I think there is something to be said for the person who is content regardless of his state.

Such a rare thing nowadays.

[Provost Harrison]

I am pretty ambitious, I am not pleased about it, but that green eyed monster can be a pretty powerful thing. As I've said, I've got what I wanted a year ago, now I want more...you can't win...

So no, it isn't a virtue, more a curse - never to be content with what you have.

[Ben Kenobi]

Provost:

Yeah, that worries me too.

I don't have much now, in material things, but I'm certainly rich in other ways. I'd hate to go the other way, in trying to provide for myself and those I care about, to lose sight of why I did these things in the first place.

[Ben Kenobi]

ambition is instrinsic to all life.

Albert:

For people, I can see that.

And so is sin, but we don't call that virtue.

One could make the arguement that Virtue is that which is not intrinsic to the human person, but must be attained through other means.

[Ben Kenobi]

It's not universal. It's a trait that different people possess different amount.

But is there anyone wholly absent of ambition?