Plato considered Sōphrosynē, which may also be translated as sound-mindedness, to be the most important virtue.

Temperance ( σωφροσύνη, sōphrosýnē Latin: temperantia): also known as restraint, the practice of self-control, abstention, discretion, and moderation tempering the appetition.Fortitude ( ἀνδρεία, andreía Latin: fortitudo): also termed courage, forbearance, strength, endurance, and the ability to confront fear, uncertainty, and intimidation.Prudence ( φρόνησις, phrónēsis Latin: prudentia also Wisdom, Sophia, sapientia), the ability to discern the appropriate course of action to be taken in a given situation at the appropriate time.See also: Arete, Aretology, Hospitium, and Paideia Platonic virtue Her (ideological) counterpart was Isfet, who symbolized chaos, lies, and injustice. The deities set the order of the universe from chaos at the moment of creation. Maat was also personified as a goddess regulating the stars, seasons, and the actions of both mortals and the deities.

Maat (or Ma’at) was the ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, law, morality, and justice. In the 13th century, the word virtue was “borrowed into English”.Ĭardinal and Theological Virtues by Raphael, 1511 Ancient Egypt The ancient Romans used the Latin word virtus (derived from vir, their word for man) to refer to all of the “excellent qualities of men, including physical strength, valorous conduct, and moral rectitude.” The French words vertu and virtu came from this Latin root. The development of virtue has a historical association as an alchemical process, wherein the internal virtues that we associate with the mind are integratively understood as the minerals that give us also the healthy biological structure of our bodies and externally the planet as a whole. Buddhism’s four brahmavihara (“Divine States”) can be regarded as virtues in the European sense. Together these make up the seven virtues. Christianity derives the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love (charity) from 1 Corinthians 13. The four classic cardinal virtues in Christianity are temperance, prudence, courage (or fortitude), and justice. Other examples of this notion include the concept of merit in Asian traditions as well as De (Chinese 德). In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards: doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.

Virtue & vanity by astrid jane ray