Cardinal virtues
Four classical virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance.
The cardinal virtues are four virtues of mind and character in classical philosophy: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They form a virtue theory of ethics, with the term 'cardinal' deriving from the Latin 'cardo' (hinge), as all other virtues are said to hinge upon them. These virtues originate in Plato's Republic, were systematized by Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics, and were recognized by the Stoics and Cicero. In the Christian tradition, they appear in the Deuterocanonical books and were expounded by the Doctors Ambrose, Augustine, and Aquinas alongside the three theological virtues.
- systematized_by
- Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
- field
- Classical philosophy, ethics
- known_for
- Four hinge virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance
- later_recognized_by
- Stoics, Cicero, Christian tradition
Lore & Background
The four cardinal virtues first appear as a group in Plato's Republic, where they are associated with the social classes of the ideal city: temperance with the producing classes, fortitude with the warrior class, prudence with the rulers, and justice as the virtue regulating relations among them. Plato sometimes lists holiness among the cardinal virtues, especially associating it with justice, but leaves their precise relationship unexplained. Aristotle expounded the virtues systematically in the Nicomachean Ethics and also listed them in his Rhetoric as justice, courage, temperance, magnificence, magnanimity, liberality, gentleness, prudence, and wisdom.
Reader's Guide
The cardinal virtues have been foundational in Western ethical thought, serving as a framework for moral philosophy from antiquity through the Christian era. In Hellenistic philosophy, Philo of Alexandria recognized them as guiding principles for a virtuous life. Roman philosophers such as Cicero limited the list to four parts: wisdom, justice, courage, temperance, while Seneca substituted devotion for courage. The Platonist view defined each virtue: prudence as perspicacity in conduct, justice as harmonious alignment of the self, temperance as moderation of desires, and courage as conquering fear. In the Bible, the virtues appear in Wisdom 8:7 and 4 Maccabees 1:18–19, and in the New Testament, wisdom and justice are prominent, while fortitude is expressed through steadfastness and patient endurance. Their legacy endures as a cardinal framework for ethical reasoning.
Did You Know?
- The term 'cardinal' comes from the Latin 'cardo' meaning hinge, because all other virtues hinge upon these four.
- Plato associated temperance with the producing classes, fortitude with warriors, and prudence with rulers in his ideal city.
- Cicero defined virtue as a habit of mind in harmony with reason and the order of nature, with four parts: wisdom, justice, courage, temperance.
- The cardinal virtues are listed in the Deuterocanonical book Wisdom 8:7 and in 4 Maccabees 1:18–19.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Cardinal virtues?
The Cardinal virtues are four foundational qualities of character—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—that classical and Christian ethics treat as the core pillars from which all other moral virtues flow.
Where do the Cardinal virtues originate?
The four-virtue framework first appears in Plato's Republic (Book IV) and was later formalized by Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics before being adopted by Stoic and Roman thinkers like Cicero. In the Christian tradition, they show up in the Deuterocanonical books and were further developed by the Church Fathers.
Why are they called 'cardinal' virtues?
The term comes from the Latin word 'cardo,' meaning hinge, because the tradition holds that every other virtue pivots on or depends upon these four as its structural foundation.
How do the Cardinal virtues connect to the theological virtues?
In Christian theology, the four Cardinal virtues are typically paired with the three theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity—as complementary sets that together describe the full moral and spiritual life. Doctors like Ambrose, Augustine, and Aquinas worked out how the two groups interrelate.
Who in the Christian tradition is credited with developing the Cardinal virtues?
While the virtues predate Christianity, the Church Fathers Ambrose and Augustine gave them a distinctly Christian reading, and Thomas Aquinas later integrated them into his comprehensive moral theology alongside the theological virtues.
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