Ralph Hancock Speaks on Virtue, Christian Love, and Liberal Education

The John Adams Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter recently hosted Ralph C. Hancock, a professor of political science at Brigham Young University, for a discussion on virtue, Christian love, moral courage, and the role of liberal arts education in a changing culture. Drawing from themes in his book Love and Virtue in a Secular Age, Hancock challenged students to reconsider what it means to stand for truth while still demonstrating genuine love and respect toward others.

A central theme of Hancock’s remarks was the importance of what he described as “virtuous pride.” Rather than referring to arrogance or self-importance, Hancock used “pride” to describe a confidence in virtue and a willingness to stand for what is good. Drawing on the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, Hancock argued that Christians and citizens of a democracy need the courage to recognize and defend genuine virtue rather than allowing excessive humility or fear of judgment to prevent them from doing so.

Hancock addressed what he sees as a tension within modern culture between acceptance and moral conviction. In an effort to avoid judging others, he argued, people can sometimes go so far as to deny the existence of objective truth or meaningful distinctions between right and wrong. Hancock suggested that this can also affect how Christians understand love. Christian love, he argued, should not be reduced to simply accepting every belief or personal claim as equally valid.