Unit 9: The Cardinal Virtues

Prudence

One’s ability to reason and act rightly in any situation
- This is the queen of all virtues (knowing to do the right before doing anything)

Fortitude

Overcoming obstacles

Temperance

Moderation

Justice

Giving others what is owed to them

What is the first principle for prudence?

1. Prudence takes moral principles and applies them to concrete situations
   - Tells one the “when, where, how, and why”
   - Reasons connect you closer to God
   - Tells one when they have had too much

What is the second principle for prudence?

2. If something is hard/not fun, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong
   - Often the right thing isn’t easy

What is the third principle for prudence?

3. Decisions require risks even when the right decision can go south
   - Even when something goes wrong, it doesn’t mean one has made the wrong decision

What is the fourth principle for prudence?

4. There are times to avoid making decisions (one’s judgment will be clouded)
   - Anger
   -Aroused + lustful thoughts + sexual temptations
   -Anxiety +stress + sadness

-Step away and cool down before making any decisions

What is the 1st virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Memory: knowledge of the past → counsel

What is the 2nd virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Understanding: knowledge of the present → counsel

What is the 3rd virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Docility: acquiring knowledge through being taught

What is the 4th virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Shrewdness: acquiring knowledge through discovery

What is the 5th virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Reason: the use of knowledge → judgement

What is the 6th virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Foresight: considering the consequences (future) → judgment

What is the 7th virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Circumspection: considering the circumstances (present) → judgment

What is the 8th virtue that make up prudence? (intellectual virtue)

Caution: considering the potential for evil → judgment

What is the 1st part of a prudential act? (moral virtue)

Good Counsel: seeking advice from reasonable and trustworthy people

What is the 2nd part of a prudential act? (moral virtue)

Good Judgment: thinking rightly about a decision, considering the circumstances, and praying

What is the 3rd part of a prudential act? (moral virtue)

Good Command: acting upon our decisions

What are the virtues, virtues of defect, and excess for good counsel?

Virtues: memory, understanding, docility, and shrewdness
Defect: precipitation → one acts without due deliberation
Excess: overdeliberation → one deliberates to much (never does the action)

What are the virtues, virtues of defect, and excess for good judgment?

Virtues: reason, foresight, circumspection, and caution
Defect: thoughtlessness → one lacks right judgment
Excess: judgmental (one has too much judgment which becomes hurtful to others) and scrupulosity (one has too much judgment which becomes hurtful to oneself)

What are the virtues, virtues of defect, and excess for good command?

Virtues: temperance, fortitude, and justice
Defect: inconstancy (one fails to command the act they’re determined) and negligence (one fails to act through a lack of willpower
Excess: indecisive → one constantly changes the act of command

Fortitude: What’s the definition, defect, and excess of courage?

Definition: facing difficulties or dangers and doing what’s right
Defect: cowardice → failure to act due to fear
Excess: recklessness → acting without proper concern for danger

Fortitude: What’s the definition, defect, and excess of magnanimity?

Definition: pushing oneself and trying to be great + having self-possession and confidence
Defect: pusillanimity → lacking determination
Excess: vainglory → seeking excessive praise and joy

Fortitude: What’s the definition, defect, and excess of magnificence?

Definition: undertaking great things using time, talent, and treasure

Defect: parsimony → spending too little when the circumstances require more spending

Excess: prodigality → spending excessively in extravagant and unwise ways

Fortitude: What’s the definition, defect, and excess of patience?

Definition: baring present difficulties calmly

Defect: impatience → the inability to endure suffering

Excess: insensible → one tolerates too much suffering and neglecting action

Fortitude: What’s the definition, defect, and excess of perseverance?

Definition: taking the necessary steps to reach a goal despite difficulties

Defect: softness → ti give up too easily because of difficulties

Excess: stubbornness → to persist unreasonably at a task

What are the capital vices and counter virtues for the immediate good (good of the soul)?

Vice: pride → an excessive love of one’s own excellence

Virtue: humility → a modest view of one’s own importance

What are the capital vices and counter virtues for the immediate good (good of the body)?

Vices:
- gluttony → an excessive indulgence in food/drink beyond what’s necessary for sustenance
- lust → an excessive desire for sexual pleasure

Virtues:
- fasting → abstain from food/drink
- chastity → refraining from sex

What are the capital vices and counter virtues for the immediate good (external goods)?

Vice: greed → an excessive desire for earthly goods

Virtue: generosity → selflessly giving materials to others

What are the capital vices and counter virtues for the good with the attendant evil (one’s own spiritual good)?

Vice: sloth → laziness or reluctant to work or make an effort

Virtue: diligence → careful and persistent work ethic

What are the capital vices and counter virtues for the good with the attendant evil (the good of another)?

Vices:
- envy → sorrow or resentment over another person’s goodness or success
- wrath → an excessive, uncontrolled, and intense response to a perceived evil

Virtues:
- kindness → the quality of being freindly
- meekness → strength to stay calm and controlled when faced with danger/issues

What’s temperance?

-All about moderating things/pleasures → portion, intention, and circumstances
-Enables one to be moderate in the pleasure and use of created goods

What’s the 1st form of temperance?

Abstinence: moderate food

What’s the 2nd form of temperance?

Sobriety: moderate drink/substances

What’s the 3rd form of temperance?

Chastity: moderate sex

What’s the 4th form of temperance?

Modesty: moderate dress, speech, and behavior

What’s the 5th form of temperance?

Clemency: moderate forgiveness (showing mercy → back into certain relationship(s))

What’s the 6th form of temperance?

Meekness: serenity of spirit (peace/calm)

What’s the 7th form of temperance?

Eutrapelia: moderating recreation/fun

What’s the 8th form of temperance?

Honesty: moderation of truth