

It also represented the five then known planets of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Venus. The cardinal directions are associated with the four lower triangles while the fifth points up to heaven. In Babylon, the five pointed star represented the corners of heaven. As Michelangelo famously wrote in his journal: “I am 87 and still learning”.
Gold star order of excellence how to#
According to Aristotle, people learn how to become virtuous by acting virtuously. Excellence of character is built through sustained, purposeful praxis. This cannot be taught but only learned through aspiration and with life work experience. A contemporary translation is “mindfulness in action”. Practical wisdom is like an inner moral compass which guides thinking and behavior always pointing to one’s guiding star. It’s linguistic root is “phroneîn” meaning “to think” from “phrḗn” meaning “mind”. Phronesis is a term meaning “practical wisdom, virtue, and action”. It is also the “highest human good” both at individual and societal levels. This leads to “eudaimonia”, a quality of happiness which encompasses: wellbeing, prosperity, and a sense of blessedness. The eudaimon carpenter is one who possesses and practices the virtues of his trade” (/).For Aristotle, those who discover and realize their telos will flourish. In their trade, virtue would be excellences in artistic eye, steady hand, patience, creativity, and so on. “As an example, let’s take a virtuous carpenter. Here, one’s striving for excellence is even more measured. The outer dimension involves building a vocation. Here, the realization of excellence involves the practice of virtues such as wisdom, courage, kindness, humor, and moderation. The inner dimension involves building character. To work at an optimal level of effectiveness.To harness all one’s faculties, abilities, and potentialities.With human beings, this is much more complex.Įach person is called to discover their own telos who they are uniquely and what their vocation, or calling, will be. In Greek, “entelecheia” means “that which turns potential into reality.” For example, the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, or an acorn into an oak tree. Aristotle believed every human is drawn into the future by an innate “telos”. Apollo is was the deity associated with prophecy and medicine. It is fundamentally human to gaze up at the night sky emblazoned with celestial lights and wonder “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose?” The answer echoing back through time is always, “Know Thyself.” This is inscribed over the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi aptly built over a cavern in 800 B.C.E.
Gold star order of excellence professional#
The following examines the origins of the five point star, how it became associated with the idea of excellence, and why today it’s a universal symbol of achievement throughout the worlds of business, entertainment, professional sport, and the military. Children receive stars on reports for good behaviour and work. Heroes are awarded medals with stars for courage. These are nations with ideologies at odds and sometimes at war. The five point star is on the flags of 35 nations today.
