ABSTRACT
This chapter begins the work of advancing tradition as a solution to the spirituality problem. The primary goal is to establish that tradition is or possesses a sort of intrinsic goodness. The discussion begins by defining tradition as a way of life that is passed down from generation to generation. Drawing on a well-known view of habituation, it explains that tradition imposes shape on the raw material of human nature through its customs, practices, institutions, and so forth. In the process, tradition elevates the human animal into a bearer of humanity, which is that in virtue of which a person is a participant in a moral community. Finally, it is argued that, insofar as it elevates human beings into bearers of humanity, tradition possesses a variety of intrinsic goodness known as humaneness. Thus, insofar as it is humane, every tradition is good.
