Wednesday - December 05, 2007
The Personification of Virtue
What is virtue? It is what this blog is about. It is how we look at the world. It is what we expect from our leaders, our citizens and ourselves. It is an unreachable goal in many instances, but something one must always strive for.
According to its etymology the word virtue (Latin virtus) signifies manliness or courage. Taken in its widest sense virtue refers to excellence, just as vice, its contrary, denotes the absence of such. In its strictest meaning, however, as used by moral philosophers and theologians, virtue is an operative habit essentially good, as distinguished from vice, an operative habit essentially evil.
The four cardinal (hinge) virtues are Justice, Courage, Wisdom, and Moderation. These were enumerated by the Greek philosophers. The three supernatural virtues of Faith, Hope and (unselfish) Love are part of the tradition of Pauline Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Both the natural and supernatural virtues depend on a person's understanding that truth can be discovered.
The four classic Western (Greek and Cardinal) virtues are:
• Temeperance-Classically, temperance was defined as governing natural appetites for the pleasure of senses according to the bounds of reason.
• Prudence-It is often associated with Wisdom, Insight, and Knowledge. In this case, the virtue is the ability to judge between virtuous and vicious actions, not only in a general sense, but with regard to appropriate actions at a given time and place.
• Fortitude-is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation. It can be divided into "physical courage" — in the face of physical pain, hardship, and threat of death — and "moral courage" — in the face of shame, scandal, and discouragement.
• Justice-It is the moderation between selfishness and selflessness.
The Roman concept of virtue is slightly more involved:
* Auctoritas — "Spiritual Authority" — The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
* Comitas — "Humour" — Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.
* Clementia — "Mercy" — Mildness and gentleness.
* Dignitas — "Dignity" — A sense of self-worth, personal pride.
* Firmitas — "Tenacity" — Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one's purpose.
* Frugalitas — "Frugalness" — Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly.
* Gravitas — "Gravity" — A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness.
* Honestas — "Respectability" — The image that one presents as a respectable member of society.
* Humanitas — "Humanity" — Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.
* Industria — "Industriousness" — Hard work.
* Pietas — "Dutifulness" — More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others.
* Prudentia — "Prudence" — Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.
* Salubritas — "Wholesomeness" — Health and cleanliness.
* Severitas — "Sternness" — Gravity, self-control.
* Veritas — "Truthfulness" — Honesty in dealing with others.
The Roman Catholic virtues are:
• Humility-A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake.
• Kindness-the pursuit of charity.
• Forgiveness-is the mental, and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.
• Diligence-A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness.
• Charity-means an unlimited loving-kindness towards all others.
• Temperance-the practice of moderation.
• Chastity-means purity and goes beyond the modern sexual context of the word.
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blue Star Chronicles, Rosemary's Thoughts, Big Dog's Weblog, and Dumb Ox Daily News, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Author: The Machiavellian
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