Knowra Cardinal virtues Cardinal virtues The four foundational moral virtues are prudence, justice, temperance, and courage. They are treated as central capacities for sound judgment, fair conduct, self-command, and steadfastness.
Prudence : The virtue of practical reason that judges how to act well in particular circumstances. It guides the choice and timing of actions across the other virtues.
Plato : An ancient Greek philosopher whose dialogues shaped Western philosophy. In the Republic, he connects wisdom, justice, moderation, and courage to the well-ordered city and soul.
Four Cardinal Virtues (Raphael) : A fresco by Raphael in the Vatican Rooms depicting fortitude, prudence, and temperance with allegorical figures. The painting gives the virtues a prominent visual form in Renaissance art.
Utilitarianism : An ethical theory that evaluates actions by their consequences for overall well-being. It judges conduct by outcomes rather than primarily by the agent’s cultivated character.
Justice : The virtue of giving others what is due to them. It directs character toward fair treatment and obligations to others.
Republic (Plato) : A dialogue by Plato that examines justice and the ideal organization of a city and soul. Its account of four civic virtues helped establish the classical scheme.
The Virtues (Prudence) : A sculpture by Antonio Corradini depicting Prudence as a female allegorical figure. Its personification shows how one cardinal virtue became a subject of devotional and civic art.
Deontology : An ethical approach that assesses actions by duties, rules, or constraints rather than consequences alone. It foregrounds obligations and principles where virtue ethics foregrounds character.
Temperance : The virtue that governs desires and pleasures through moderation. It brings appetites under reason rather than suppressing them altogether.
Aristotle : An ancient Greek philosopher whose work spans ethics, politics, natural science, and logic. His account of practical wisdom and moral character shaped later interpretations of the virtues.
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