The phrase doesn't discredit the idea of virtue. Virtue signalling captures a thing that has low cost (like saying one word instead of another) and limited actu

The phrase doesn't discredit the idea of virtue. Virtue signalling captures a thing that has low cost (like saying one word instead of another) and limited actual virtue. Of course, people can try to smear genuine virtue by calling it mere virtue signalling. Philanthropy might be called mere virtue signalling by some, even though it does materially benefit people. But I think most cases are more clear-cut.