CUNY Ethics and Morality Essay Contest
Funded by the Chynn Family Foundation
2012 Essay Contest
Best Essay
Jesaiah Prayor (Queensborough Community College)
Heroic Virtue
First Runner-up
Nicole Wong (Queens College)
It Starts at Home
Second Runner-up
Brandon Jordan (Queens College)
A Phoenix Rising From The Ashes
Honorable Mention (Last Name Order)
Miriyam Aronova (Queens College)
Joshua Hernandez (John Jay College)
Winnie Hu (Borough of Manhattan Community College)
Christie Paul (Queensborough Community College)
Keith Razack (Kingsborough Community College)
Jessina Thondiamthadathil (Lehman College)
Funded by the Chynn Family Foundation, the goal of the CUNY Essay on Ethics and Morality, is to stimulate young people to ponder the topic of morality, and to broadcast the best essays, in an attempt to promote the teaching of morality in American education.
The Asian American / Asian Research Institute will award the top three essays, as selected by the Selection Committee, the following prizes:
- Best Essay ($1,000)
- First Runner-up ($300)
- Second Runner-up ($200)
Background: Regardless of where one lives, virtues form the moral foundation of one’s life. Throughout history, moral philosophers in all cultures have striven to answer the question of “What characteristics or virtues distinguish the moral man from the immoral one?” In ancient Greek times, the Four Cardinal Virtues were considered to be: Prudence/Wisdom, Justice, Fortitude/Courage, and Temperance/Self-control. There were additionally Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. Together, these comprised the Seven Virtues.
At about the same time in ancient China, Confucius formulated what he called the Five Constant Virtues: Ren (Benevolence, Love), Yi (Righteousness), Li (Propriety, Loyalty, Filial Piety, Chastity, Respect), Zhi (Wisdom), and Xin (Integrity, Honesty, Fidelity.)
Please select one Virtue to discuss in detail from the Background section above. In discussing the Virtue you have selected, please incorporate all of the following points in your essay:
- Tell us about your own experience in practicing the Virtue you have chosen to write about and what personal reward or satisfaction have you gained from it.
- Why did you think the Virtue that you chose was an important one to practice in your life?
- What obstacles did you encounter in practicing this particular Virtue and how did you, or do you, still strive to overcome the difficulties?
