Why Pride Is the Worst | The Seven Deadly Sins | PRIDE

Summary

This script delves into the concept of pride as the root of all sins, drawing from the biblical story of Lucifer and theological perspectives like Thomas Aquinas's 'capital sins.' It explores pride's role in triggering other vices and its divisive impact on society, contrasting Christian views with psychological insights. The narrative challenges the modern celebration of pride, suggesting an examination of its true nature and consequences, and proposes dignity as a healthier form of self-worth.

Takeaways

• 😇 The story of Lucifer illustrates the concept of pride as the most dangerous sin, leading to his downfall from angel to Satan.
• 📜 Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologiae identified pride as the 'capital sin' from which all other sins stem.
• 👥 Modern society often encourages pride, celebrating personal achievements and self-promotion on social media platforms.
• 🌐 Pride is not only about personal accomplishments but also extends to national, ethnic, and even gender identity.
• 📚 The Seven Deadly Sins originated from Evagrius Ponticus's 'eight evil thoughts' and were later formalized by Pope Gregory I.
• 💥 The Bible warns against the dangers of pride, suggesting it precedes destruction and a fall.
• 🧐 Christian perspective views pride as a belief in self-sufficiency and a denial of God's role in our lives and achievements.
• 🤔 Non-Christian viewpoints consider pride a complex emotion, potentially driven by underlying feelings of inferiority and shame.
• 🎭 The myth of Narcissus represents the perils of self-obsession and pride, leading to isolation and ruin.
• 🏛 National pride can be both a unifying force within a group and a source of division and hostility towards outsiders.
• 💼 The concept of pride is nuanced, with distinctions made between authentic pride related to personal achievements and hubristic pride associated with arrogance and social dominance.

Q & A

Who is considered the most magnificent angel created by God according to the script?

Lucifer is considered the most magnificent angel created by God.

What did Lucifer do that led to his downfall in the script?

Lucifer created a throne for himself above the stars, sought to be like God, and convinced a third of the angelic beings to join him in a rebellion against Heaven, which ultimately led to his downfall.

How did God transform Lucifer after his rebellion according to the script?

God transformed Lucifer's beauty, the trait he admired most about himself, into ugliness, turning him into the vile, wrathful creature known as Satan.

What is the worst sin according to Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologiae?

According to Thomas Aquinas, the worst sin is pride, which he considered the 'capital sin' that leads to other sins.

How does the script describe the modern perspective on pride, especially in the context of social media?

The script describes the modern perspective as one that often encourages pride, with social media being full of individuals boasting about their extraordinary lives and accomplishments.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins as listed by Pope Gregory I, according to the script?

The Seven Deadly Sins as listed by Pope Gregory I are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

How does the script relate the story of Adam and Eve to the concept of pride?

The script relates the story of Adam and Eve by suggesting that Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve by evoking her sense of pride, leading her to believe she could be like God.

What psychological condition is associated with an extreme form of pride, as mentioned in the script?

Narcissism is the psychological condition associated with an extreme form of pride, deeply rooted in feelings of inferiority.

How does the script describe the potential harm of pride in terms of personal relationships and societal divisions?

The script describes the potential harm of pride as leading to self-obsession, isolation, and division among people, as seen in the story of Narcissus and the concept of national pride.

What is the difference between authentic and hubristic pride according to the study mentioned in the script?

Authentic pride is linked to achievement, accomplishment, confidence, productivity, and self-worth, while hubristic pride is linked to dominance and social validation, often leading to aggressive behavior and the pursuit of extrinsic goals.

What alternative to pride is suggested by John Amodeo in the script?

John Amodeo suggests replacing pride with dignity, which is a more genuine and stable self-worth based on validating, affirming, and valuing ourselves as we are, independent of any accomplishments.

Outlines

00:00

😇 The Fall of Lucifer and the Concept of Pride

This paragraph narrates the biblical story of Lucifer, the most magnificent angel created by God, who became prideful and sought to rival God. He constructed a throne above the stars and persuaded a third of the angels to join him in a rebellion against Heaven. However, Lucifer was defeated and cast into Hell, where his beauty was transformed into ugliness, becoming Satan. The paragraph also delves into the concept of pride as the root of all sins, referencing Thomas Aquinas's 'capital sins' and the Seven Deadly Sins, which originated from the works of Evagrius Ponticus and were later adapted by Pope Gregory I. Pride is considered the instigator of evil, leading to other sins, and the paragraph contrasts modern society's celebration of pride with Christian teachings that view it as dangerous.

05:00

🤔 The Dual Nature of Pride: Christian and Psychological Perspectives

This paragraph explores the Christian view of pride as the worst sin, which leads to other sins due to a sense of superiority over others. It uses examples from the Bible, such as the Pharaoh of Egypt, to illustrate how pride can result in punishment and suffering. The paragraph then transitions to a non-Christian viewpoint, discussing how pride can stem from feelings of inferiority and shame, as explained in an article by John Amodeo in Psychology Today. It mentions the psychological concept of narcissism and how pride can be a destructive coping mechanism for those with poor self-worth. The paragraph also touches on the subtle ways pride manifests in society, such as through reality TV, gossip, and cancel culture, suggesting that these behaviors may be driven by a desire to feel superior to others.

10:02

🏅 The Complexity of Pride: From Narcissism to Nationalism

This paragraph examines the story of Narcissus from Greek mythology to illustrate the dangers of self-obsession and pride, which can lead to isolation and ruin. It discusses how pride can create divisions among people, such as with national pride, which can be both a source of social cohesion and a cause of hostility towards outsiders. The paragraph also explores the concept of pride within religious contexts, where it can lead to divisions among believers and a sense of superiority over others. It uses quotes from Allan Wallach and Arthur Schopenhauer to argue that pride based on external factors, such as nationality or ethnicity, is unfounded and can be a form of compensation for personal inadequacy.

15:07

🧐 Questioning the Basis of Pride in Achievements

The paragraph delves into the question of how much of our achievements are genuinely our own, challenging the idea that we can take full credit for our successes. It uses the example of a philosophy professor to discuss the role of external factors, such as education, support systems, and innate intelligence, in one's accomplishments. The paragraph also considers the Christian perspective that even our hard work is ultimately God's will. It raises the point that pride in achievements may be unjustified when considering the role of luck and circumstances, and it critiques the tendency to look down on those perceived as less successful, suggesting that this is not a fair judgment given the varied opportunities and challenges individuals face.

20:12

🤩 The Dichotomy of Pride: Authentic and Hubristic

This final paragraph discusses the complexity of the emotion of pride, presenting the dichotomy of authentic and hubristic pride as proposed by researchers Tracy and Robbins. Authentic pride is associated with positive traits such as accomplishment, confidence, and self-worth, while hubristic pride is linked to dominance and the pursuit of external validation, which can lead to negative behaviors. The paragraph reflects on the Christian view of pride as a sin and contrasts it with the idea that pride can be a positive reaction to one's achievements. It concludes by suggesting that dignity, rather than pride, may be a more stable and genuine form of self-worth, as it does not rely on external achievements or validation.

Keywords

💡Lucifer

Lucifer, in Christian theology, is considered the most magnificent angel created by God, who fell from grace due to his pride. In the script, Lucifer's story is used as a prime example of how pride can lead to one's downfall, illustrating the central theme of the video that pride is considered the root of all sins.

💡Pride

Pride is depicted as the worst of the Seven Deadly Sins, stemming from an inflated sense of self-importance, power, and entitlement. The script discusses pride as both a gateway to other sins and a destructive force, highlighting its role in the narrative of Lucifer's fall and its broader implications in society and personal well-being.

💡Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins are a Christian concept listing seven immoral acts considered transgressions against the divine, oneself, and the world. The script explores these sins, particularly pride, as a framework for understanding human failings and their impact on modern life.

💡Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century theologian, is mentioned for his elaboration on the 'capital sins' in his work 'Summa Theologiae.' His classification of pride as the worst sin contextualizes the script's discussion on the gravity of pride within theological thought.

💡Hubristic Pride

Hubristic pride, derived from the ancient Greek 'hubris,' is contrasted with authentic pride in the script. It is linked to dominance, arrogance, and the pursuit of extrinsic goals, which can lead to negative outcomes such as aggressive behavior and social division.

💡Authentic Pride

Authentic pride is presented as a positive form of self-appreciation linked to achievement, confidence, and self-worth. The script uses this concept to differentiate between healthy self-regard and the destructive nature of hubristic pride.

💡Narcissism

Narcissism is described as an extreme form of pride, deeply rooted in feelings of inferiority. The script uses the psychological condition of narcissism to explain the defensive nature of pride and its potential to cause self-destruction, as illustrated in the myth of Narcissus.

💡National Pride

National pride is discussed in the script as a form of pride that can be both unifying and divisive. It can foster camaraderie and solidarity within a group but also hostility towards outsiders, highlighting the complex nature of pride and its societal effects.

💡Self-Worth

Self-worth in the script is contrasted with pride, suggesting that a genuine and stable sense of self-worth is based on living with dignity and valuing oneself unconditionally, rather than on achievements or external validation.

💡Dignity

Dignity is proposed as an alternative to pride in the script, emphasizing a stable self-worth that exists independently of one's accomplishments. It is presented as a healthier form of self-regard that does not rely on external factors or comparisons to others.

💡Narcissus

The mythological figure Narcissus is used in the script to illustrate the dangers of self-obsession and pride. His story, where he falls in love with his own reflection and ultimately dies of self-neglect, serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of excessive self-love and separation from the world.

Highlights

Lucifer, the most magnificent angel created by God, fell from grace due to his pride, becoming Satan.

Pride is considered the worst of the Seven Deadly Sins, leading to other sins and a downfall according to Christian belief.

Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century identified pride as the root of all sins in his 'Summa Theologiae'.

Social media often encourages pride by promoting self-boasting and extraordinary life displays.

The concept of the Seven Deadly Sins originated from Evagrius Ponticus's 'eight evil thoughts' and was later revised by Pope Gregory I.

Pride can be a destructive emotion, often driven by poor self-worth and a need to compensate for feelings of inferiority.

Pride can manifest subtly in everyday life through reality TV, gossip, and cancel culture.

The story of Narcissus illustrates the self-obsession and isolation that can result from excessive pride.

National pride can be both a source of social cohesion and a cause of hostility towards outgroups.

Spiritual pride can create divisions within religious groups based on perceived superiority in practice.

Pride in unearned characteristics like nationality or physical traits is questioned as an unfounded emotion.

Arthur Schopenhauer criticized national pride as a cheap form of self-esteem for those lacking personal achievements.

The role of luck and external circumstances in personal success challenges the justification for pride in one's achievements.

Authentic and hubristic pride are distinguished, with the former linked to positive outcomes and the latter to negative behaviors.

Dignity is proposed as a more stable and genuine form of self-worth, separate from external achievements.

The dichotomy of pride reflects on whether pride is entirely negative or contains elements that can be positively embraced.

Transcripts

Of all angels, Lucifer was the most magnificent God had created.

Aware of his beauty, brilliance, and many qualities, Lucifer felt elevated above the

other angels and, at some point, even above God.

He wanted to be like God, so he created a throne for himself above the stars and convinced

a third of the angelic beings to join his side and take over Heaven.

But Lucifer lost the war and was banished from Heaven, cast down to Hell.

God transformed Lucifer’s beauty – the trait he admired most about himself – into

ugliness, and thus the once so-handsome angel became the vile, wrathful creature we know

as Satan.

Lucifer had fallen for the worst of sins, pride, which led to his inflated sense of

self-importance, power, and entitlement.

In the thirteenth century, theologian Thomas Aquinas elaborated on what he called the “capital

sins” in his Summa Theologiae, in which he considered the sin of “pride” the worst

of all sins.

Through pride, one becomes susceptible to the other six sins.

Pride, therefore, is the instigator, the gateway drug to evil.

However, nowadays, many people seem to encourage pride.

We celebrate those boasting of their accomplishments, and social media is full of individuals who

continuously post about their extraordinary lives.

And we’re not just proud of our achievements: we’re also proud of where we’re from,

what nationality is in our passport, how we look, what skin color, and even what gender

we have.

But how and why is such pride bad exactly?

And aren’t there good forms of pride, then?

The Seven Deadly Sins is a Christian concept that presents humanity with seven immoral

acts: seven transgressions against the divine, oneself, and the world around us.

The idea of the Seven Deadly Sins came to fruition when the desert father Evagrius Ponticus

listed the “eight evil thoughts:” gluttony, lust, avarice, anger, sloth, sadness, vainglory,

and pride, but it had Greek and Roman precedents, specifically the ethics of Aristotle.

In the sixth century, Pope Gregory I revised Evagrius’ list and turned it into the list

of sins we know: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

This video series explores the Seven Deadly Sins as a Christian concept and beyond.

What’s so bad about these sins?

How do they apply to present-day life and society, and how can they influence our well-being

and the well-being of those around us?

And can non-Christians benefit from this concept?

This essay delves into the mother of all sin: pride.

When prideful, we take satisfaction in a supposed elevated and preferable position compared

to others.

We feel better than others, as individuals or as groups, because of specific characteristics

and accomplishments.

We might feel this way because of the ethnic group we belong to, the country we’re born

in, or even the gender we identify with.

On the surface, pride doesn’t seem so bad.

But many Christians believe pride is very dangerous and a pathway to evil.

(10).

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

…says the Bible.

Let’s first briefly explore some Christian views and examples of pride.

As we’ve seen in the story of Lucifer, pride leads to one’s downfall, according to Christianity.

The central idea behind the danger of pride seems to be that we are not greater than God,

and as soon as we try to be above him, we get in trouble.

An example of this we see in the story of Adam and Eve, in which the same fallen angel,

Lucifer (now the fully-fledged Satan), disguised as a snake, convinced Eve that she could be

like God if she ate the forbidden fruit.

One interpretation of this story is that Satan tempted Eve by evoking her sense of pride

(through the disobedience of God): she assumed that she knew better than him and was supposed

to be like him instead of serving him.

From a Christian point of view, when we’re prideful, we believe we’re self-sufficient,

as in, we don’t need God and can live without him.

We think our accomplishments are our own doing, while they’re actually the work of God,

like the proud Pharaoh of Egypt who refused to set the Israelites free as ordered by God,

saying:

Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?

I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.

End quote.

Eventually, by sending ten disastrous plagues to Egypt, God eradicated the Pharaoh’s pride,

so he realized he wasn’t as powerful as he thought.

Again, Pharaoh thought he was better than he truly was, above God in a way, and he and

the people of Egypt paid a heavy price for it.

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.

Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

End quote.

Christian scholars have a consensus that pride is the worst of all sins because (aside from

Biblical examples) it generates every other sin as a gateway drug that leads to other

drugs.

The reason why pride leads to other sins is because of the thought of “being better

than others.”

For example, pride leads to greed because one feels entitled to have more, often at

the expense of others.

The lustful individual sees others merely as objects to be used because he believes

he deserves it.

Envious people feel they should have what they want and can’t stand others having

what they think they should have but cannot.

The glutton feels she deserves more food than necessary, even when others are hungry, and

deprives them of it by taking it herself.

The wrathful person believes, in his arrogance, that he’s always right and justly avenges

what he sees as wrong by others.

And lastly, the individual whose sin is sloth thinks she’s too good to work and that others

can do the work for her.

Hence, in Christianity, pride is a sin and the worst of all sins.

But what can we say about pride from a non-Christian viewpoint?

If we don’t take God into account, what then is wrong with pride?

Pride, on the other hand, is the mother of all sins and the original sin of Lucifer.

An instrument strung but preferring to play itself because it thinks it knows the tune

better than the musician.

End quote.

A proud person is full of himself; he rates himself exceptionally high compared to others.

He, therefore, feels elevated above others, and other people’s flaws confirm and strengthen

his inflated self-image.

Like C.S.

Lewis’ instrument, he thinks he knows better and is more capable than others, often even

those who clearly have more expertise than him.

Why would someone delude himself by thinking his expertise is superior when it isn’t?

Why, for the proud person, is the idea of being on top, the superior one, in whatever

way, shape, or form, more important than anything else?

An article by John Amodeo, published in Psychology Today, explores the root of pride, saying:

Pride is often driven by poor self-worth and shame.

We feel so badly about ourselves that we compensate by feeling superior.

We look for others’ flaws as a way to conceal our own.

We relish criticizing others as a defense against recognizing our own shortcomings.

End quote.

An excessively proud person feels inherently inferior; otherwise, the need to be better

than others wouldn’t be so high on the agenda.

The psychological condition called ‘narcissism’ entails an extreme form of pride deeply rooted

in feelings of inferiority.

A narcissist needs his pride, his sense of superiority, to maintain himself in the world,

and without it, he would collapse under the weight of his self-perceived inadequacy.

Unfortunately, the coping strategy of pride often turns out to be destructive.

But pride is often subtle as well.

For example, don’t we love watching reality series, mainly to see how stupid the people

in them are, compared to ourselves?

Don’t we enjoy gossiping about our neighbors and family members just to feel better about

ourselves?

And how about canceling other people who do or say things we disagree with?

To what degree do we do this to genuinely make the world a better place, and to what

degree does cancel culture arise from pride.

Even though pride may disguise itself as a force of good, it could actually make things

worse.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

End quote.

Although it may seem harmless and preferable, pride and its consequences can be problematic.

The story of the Greek mythological figure Narcissus shows an example of the harmful

effects of pride.

Narcissus admired himself so deeply that he fell in love with his reflection in a pool

of water, on which he became so fixated that he couldn’t look away anymore.

He forgot to eat and drink, so his health, and therefore his beauty, declined until he

died.

There are many interpretations of many different versions of the story of Narcissus.

But at its core, it shows us how self-obsession leads to ruin.

Also, it estranges us from the outside world.

We can see this played out today: many are more focused on their social media image than

actually experiencing life, achieving something significant, and maintaining meaningful connections

with others.

For example, many were in love with Narcissus, but he was incapable and unwilling to feel

love toward a person.

He could only love himself.

His pride separated him from the world in a way prideful people separate themselves

from others.

Amodeo stated:

Such over-confidence and arrogance push us away.

Instead of relating to us as equals, they display an obnoxious superiority that makes

us feel small.

They have the knack of making us feel the shame that they refuse to face within themselves.

End quote.

Thus, the story of Narcissus shows that pride can work divisively, which we can also see

with national pride, which divides groups of people.

Sometimes, such divisions are innocent, for example, aside from some exceptions, during

a World Cup or the Olympics.

National pride can be a source of social cohesion and solidarity, predominantly among those

that belong to the group.

But it can also be a source of hostility against the outgroup.

We can see this with ultranationalist hate towards minorities.

And probably the most famous example in history is national socialism in Germany before and

during the second world war, based not only on national pride but also on the pride of

one’s ethnicity.

Similarly, some religious people are hostile toward outsiders.

That hostility is evoked by pride: the idea that their religion is better than other religions

and that this makes them better people than those with a different religion.

Within religions, pride also creates divisions between groups or individual practitioners.

This spiritual pride revolves around the idea that one is a better practitioner than another.

For example, a Muslim prays more often and thus feels she’s a better Muslim than her

neighbor.

Or a Buddhist monk meditates more than his fellow monks and thus feels more advanced

in the Buddhist path.

Or, regarding the sin of pride: a Christian behaves more humbly than her neighbor and

thus feels she’s better than him, which in itself isn’t very humble.

Instead of accepting others, prideful people place themselves above others, which may eventually

evoke hostility on both sides.

Like Narcissus, the prideful person closes himself off from the world, absorbed with

his superiority.

Author and expert on Tibetan Buddhism Allan Wallace wrote:

Tibetans look at a person who holds himself above others, believing he is better than

others and knows more, and they say that person is like someone sitting on a mountain top:

it is cold there, it is hard, and nothing will grow.

But if the person puts himself in a lower position, then that person is like a fertile

field.

For many, being proud of one’s country is seen as a positive characteristic, including

camaraderie, solidarity, and loyalty.

Especially at major sports events, national pride is prevalent and grows exponentially

when one’s national team wins: “we won, we are the best,” they say.

But what exactly are they proud of?

And how much of it was their own doing?

Things like nationality and bodily features like skin color or height: to what degree

were these given to us by fate, and to what degree have they been our own doing?

Most likely, we didn’t establish these features ourselves.

They are products of forces not in our control.

Before birth, a baby doesn’t pick the country he wants to be born in, nor does he choose

his skin color or whether or not he’s tall or short.

Yet, for some reason, people tend to derive pride from these characteristics, as if they’re

of their own making.

They feel elevated above others based on what’s not their own doing.

Not that it’s wrong to be happy with specific preferable attributes, but is there any reason

to be proud?

In a short essay about pride, German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote that pride isn’t

bad per se, but when it’s unfounded, it’s cheap.

Rejecting pride, he argued, is done by those who haven’t got much to be proud of themselves.

He also noticed that people with no significant achievements resort to forms of pride, like

national pride, as compensation.

I quote:

The cheapest sort of pride is national pride; for if a man is proud of his own nation, it

argues that he has no qualities of his own of which he can be proud; otherwise he would

not have recourse to those which he shares with so many millions of his fellowmen.

The man who is endowed with important personal qualities will be only too ready to see clearly

in what respects his own nation falls short, since their failings will be constantly before

his eyes.

But every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud adopts, as a

last resource, pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and glad to defend

all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.

End quote.

Being proud of achievements that are not our own is delusional, which is quite apparent.

But how much of our accomplishments – things we’ve worked hard for, like obtaining a

Ph.D. or building a successful business – is genuinely our own?

A Christian might say even though we worked hard for what we’ve accomplished, most of

it is God’s work – it’s God’s will.

And thus, our pride isn’t just, as we’re prideful of things that ultimately aren’t

our own doing, or at least, not as much as we’d think.

But if we’d take God out of the equation, does this reasoning still stand?

Take, for example, someone who became a professor of philosophy.

This individual had to study, be accepted into a Ph.D. program, finish it, do a post-doc

program, teach classes, publish articles, and more.

Even Schopenhauer would say that after these many years of toil, the professor of philosophy

deserved to be proud: his pride is fair.

He might even boast about his accomplishments, saying: “I did it all myself.

I’ve come so far because of my hard work and dedication.”

But to what extent is such pride justified?

For example, who paid for his education?

Who helped him get accepted into university?

Who allowed him to obtain a doctorate?

Even if most of these events were due to his intelligence and hard work: who gave him his

above-average intelligence?

Who gave him the right circumstances, like growing up in the right country, having a

family with enough resources at their disposal, having the upbringing that stimulated and

encouraged him to study, or, in short, an environment that facilitated his path to becoming

a professor?

Was the whole foundation on which his success was built his own doing?

What if he had been born a poor person in a third-world country: would his intelligence

and hard work have gotten him so far?

Our accomplishments, regardless of how hard we worked for them, have been largely built

on luck.

We could say that even without the Christian concept of God, it’s reasonable to argue

that we generally take too much pride in our accomplishments as our roles in them are much

smaller than we tend to think.

For an atheist, it may not have been the Lord who created the circumstances and characteristics

that made his path to success possible.

Still, it’s undeniable that fate played a significant role in it.

And so, taking all the credit for one’s achievements isn’t fair.

Taking pride in things that are not our own doing is, again, delusional.

Yet, we often exaggerate our roles regarding our achievements.

Moreover, because of their accomplishments, people tend to feel superior to others and

even resort to calling people with fewer to no significant achievements (in their eyes,

at least) “losers.”

But how is it justified to feel better than someone else when, in all likelihood, the

sum of circumstances was less favorable for that person?

The Bible states:

Do not be arrogant toward the branches.

If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Is ‘pride’ indeed the worst of sins and a gateway to many evils better to be avoided

at all costs?

Or is the Christian position toward pride too one-sided, meaning that pride also contains

positive elements?

We don’t always perceive pride as an evil characteristic.

In some instances, pride is a positive concept if we see it as a positive emotional reaction

to one’s success or a sense of satisfaction with one’s circumstances.

But if we see pride as arrogance, conceit, and a sense of superiority, it’s a negative

concept.

In 2007, researchers Tracy and Robbins published a study named The psychological structure

of pride: A tale of two facets.

They proposed a dichotomy of pride consisting of authentic and hubristic pride.

The term ‘hubristic’ stems from the Ancient Greek word ‘hubris,’ which translates

as ‘excessive pride or self-confidence.’

The study argued that authentic pride is linked to achievement, accomplishment, confidence,

productivity, and self-worth.

Hubristic pride is linked to dominance and social validation, which motivates the pursuit

of extrinsic goals, as this may lead to obtaining other people’s acknowledgment but also to

aggressive behavior.

The authentic and hubristic dichotomy shows similarities with Schopenhauer’s distinction

between ‘pride’ and ‘vanity,’ saying, and I quote: “Pride works from within; it

is the direct appreciation of oneself.

Vanity is the desire to arrive at this appreciation indirectly, from without.”

End quote.

Looking at the angel Lucifer, we could say that he tended more toward hubristic pride,

as his pride and feelings of superiority were excessive, and he desired admiration from

others by creating a throne above the stars and waging war to establish his dominance.

Nevertheless, pride remains a complicated emotion.

For some, it’s the root of all evil.

For others, it’s not all bad; for example, to take pride in one’s accomplishments.

Others would say that most people exaggerate their roles regarding their accomplishments,

which mostly result from external circumstances – God, from a Christian viewpoint.

And because of that, pride isn’t justified.

John Amodeo argues that pride isn’t a healthy form of self-worth because if we base value

on achievements or self-image, it’s based on a fragile foundation.

Instead, we could replace pride with dignity.

I quote:

A more genuine and stable self-worth is based upon validating, affirming, and valuing ourselves

as we are.

Self-worth is a function of living with dignity, which exists apart from any accomplishments.

Achievements are ephemeral and can become a trap.

If too much of our attention goes toward accomplishing bigger and better things in order to feel

good, then we become addicted to external sources of gratification.

End quote.

So, what do you think?

Is pride all bad?

Or are there good sides to pride?

Please, leave your comments below.

Thank you for watching.