Religion Class. It MLA Style, Answer Questions:

¶ … religion class. It MLA style, Answer questions: Confucius thinks deliberate tradition

It is not absolutely necessary for an individual to be cognizant of and take part in some sort of deliberate tradition for the cultivation of virtuous individual lives. Nonetheless, such a tradition can be useful in propagating virtue. Alternatively, such a tradition can also be used to propagate vices and other nefarious forms of behavior. However, a deliberate tradition is not necessary to cultivate virtue. One can cultivate virtue simply by following the golden rule, which is to do unto others as one wants done unto oneself (Klempner). Such a mantra or formula for virtue is highly innate and is actually little more than common sense. Hence, individuals can discover this ideology on their own and practice it without expressly being told about it, or following some lengthy tradition dispelling other means of moral behavior. In light of this line of thinking, it is completely possible for a person to reason his or her way to a virtuous life without complicated social rituals. Usually such rituals have some sort of ulterior motive in mind -- quite often pertaining to the needs or desires of the government -- and are far from as unadulterated as the proverbial golden rule.

Contemporary American society is most assuredly largely based on a number of intricate social rituals, certainly as opposed to being based around reason and common sense. Many of the social norms that one associates with virtue in this society do not make sense, or are mere facades and superficial, hollow displays that do not truly mean anything. For instance, it is considered polite and somewhat virtuous to ask someone 'how are you' when initiating a conversation with him or her. People do not really expect for this question to be answered, and if the person answering says anything negative or detracting from what otherwise could be the start of a normative conversation -- either a social one, professional one, familial one, etc. -- the other person will typically have some negative perception of the individual and likely not pursue the conversation nor look forward to another one with that person. Still, there are many such societal rules and conventions that people must get used to and adopt themselves, so that they can fit in. There is little reason for these practices except for superficiality, so no, in this instance, individual reason does not prevail.

The social rules themselves are a combination of both explicit and implicit ones. Some of the rules -- such as the fact that in certain states an individual must pay for the deductible in order for his insurance company to fix his car regardless of which party is at fault in an accident -- are quite explicit. Other ones are decidedly more implicit, such as the fact that there are some occasions when people invite people over or offer o share something with them just so the other persons can refuse as a matter of course. The meeting ground for these rules is that in tandem, they have come to dominate virtually most aspect of a person's life -- particularly that which takes place in public. Judging the way that a person looks, and how he or she is dressed, for instance, it may be unlawful for certain individuals to frequent public places and they may be escorted out, or even arrested, by law enforcement authorities in the process.