I will say there is a meaningful distinction between consequences at the hands of the law involving guns and jails vs. consequences by our peers involving social reputation and retractions of friendship.

Yes, there are real consequences from my wife if I were to cheat on her. They are real and important. I object to these consequences being compared with laws that threaten jail or fines.

In fact, it is exactly these kinds of interpersonal/social consequences that guide us to build virtue.

sure. And, unless you consciously choose to perform or not perform the action, it isn't virtuous nor does it build a virtuous character.

The point of the video is about building virtuous citizens. Assuming everything you say is true - there might be good reasons to make things illegal. I am of that opinion myself.

The question is, will it build virtue? Or will it build obedience? I know and work with rich people who are extraordinarily virtuous, who are faced with temptation regularly, and it is their virtue that stops them from exercising their power unfairly. They could get away with all kinds of bullshit and not get caught. It isn't the rules that stops them, it is the morality.

I believe those with power will always be tempted to use it unfairly, and there are many kinds of power (which are not going away any time soon). The key is to build virtue in those who have the power, and that comes through choices that build that virtue.

ChaosE - This may be a matter of semantics and definitions. Depending on how you define the terms, I agree with your point.

And, in moral philosophy, if it is not your _choice_, it is not an ethical choice. Sorry if this is philosophical bullshit, but think about it: your "not killing someone" because you don't have the motivation or means is not a virtuous choice, it is simply not NOT an unethical one. It is the lack of a negative, not the presence of a positive. Virtue is about our choices, not our defaults.

Virtue is like building a muscle. The virtue is demonstrated/evidenced in building my strength (taking the time and focus to work out and be disciplined), not in the fact that I am strong. If I stop working out, my muscle will decay.

This is like virtue. In a strange way, once we have habituated a virtuous choice to routine/automatic mode, it is no longer a virtuous choice. It was virtuous to build the habit, but it is not virtuous when it is automatic.

Again, it is philosophical quibbling/definitions, but it points to a real distinction that matters in our moment by moment experience. As moral philosophers put it, morality is about what you do in the face of difficulty and temptation, not when things are automatic. It is easy to be nice to people when life is going great for you. It is hard to be nice to others when things are stressful and falling apart. THAT is where the rubber of morality meets the road of reality/daily life. That is where virtue shows up (or doesn't).

I am married and monogamy is part of my commitment. If no other woman would deign to sleep with me, my not sleeping with them is no indication of my virtue. It is only in the face of propositions to which I say "no" that I am exercising the virtue of fidelity.

In this sense, the more we are responsible for our own choices, the more those choice CAN be virtuous and BUILD our virtuous character. In contrast, when other people make our choices for us, we neither act virtuously nor build virtuous character.

I am sure this is true in your own life. If you donate time/money/effort to a charitable cause, it impacts you personally and powerfully. When the government takes taxes from your paycheck to pay for social programs, it is impersonal and has virtually zero impact on your character.

Or, that is one way of looking at it - which the video is all about.