You are conflating virtues and values. I happen to think that not all things that are valued are virtuous. But maybe that's just me. However, if you want to see why there might be a problem with conflation try googling "virtues vs values" and you'll see that not only do people generally regard them as different, but also that there is widespread disagreement on how they are different.

Thank you for your insightful remarks. I agree: all virtues are considered values, but not all values are virtuous in nature. In this context, my focus was on intellectual values, which are virtuous in most cases.

Thank you for your response. When humility and courage are demonstrated through intellectual pursuits, human existence becomes a profound journey of knowledge, meaningful values, and self-discovery. As Stephen Hawking said, 'The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.'

Whither Wernher von Braun?

"Ergo cogito, sed quid Aristoteles docet?"

Amalya Sukiasyan

I don't think there's an easy Aristotelian response to the entanglement of intellectual and moral values and virtues evinced by the case of Wernher von Braun.

Someone should take that up as a PhD thesis topic....

Karl Pfeifer, thank you for your insights. Wernher von Braun's character is morally complex and somewhat ambiguous. Yes, even Aristotelian principles don't give a definitive answer to this. The social responsibility, which is included in all intellectual and moral dilemmas, highlights the importance of serving the public good, and not its destruction. These existential controversies are so layered that such doctoral research, while carrying substantial psycho-ethical weight, might have addressed only certain dimensions of the multifaceted issue.

Those who are intrigued by this sidebar on Wernher von Braun might take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun in order to get a sense of the complexity of the case as regards intellectual and moral virtues and values.

Intellectual values give depth and meaning to a nihilistic life, as they shape the intellectual and moral identity of individuals. They create a sense of belonging, deep joy, and inner satisfaction. Moreover, they enhance inner strength, granting individuals the resilience to overcome challenges and make decisions that benefit society and humanity.

In this way, intellectual values transcend the boundaries of cold intelligence and pure logic, becoming a way of life that elevates individuals to higher levels of understanding and appreciation of existence.

Thank you for your insightful response. Life indeed is enriched by intellectual values, which give human existence epistemic weight, psycho-ethical depth, and freedom of mind. These values also pave the path of intellectual independence, which is crucial in understanding the world in a relevant way. As Christopher Hitchens said, "The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." The nihilistic emptiness of things is governed by the invincible power of truth, the unwavering pillars of hope, and the courage to turn struggles into victories.