Cardinal Virtues

Christianity considers that the cardinal virtues , taken again Antiquity, play a hinge part (from where their name the “cardinal ones”, of Latin cardo : hinge, pivot) in the human action and among the other virtues. Their number is of four:

the prudence , which lays out the reason practices to distinguish in any circumstance the true good and to choose the right means of achieving it;

the Temperance , which ensures the control of the will on the instincts and maintains the desires within the limits of honesty, getting balance in the use of the goods;

the force , i.e. the courage, which ensures in the difficulties firmness and constancy in the continuation of the good, strengthening the resolution to resist temptations and to surmount the obstacles in the moral life;

the Justice , which consists in the constant and firm will to give to each one what is owe him.

The virtues are firm attitudes, stable provisions, usual perfections of the intelligence and will which regulate the acts, order passions and guide control. They get facilitated, control and joy to carry out a morally good life. The virtuous man, it is that which freely practical the good.

This group of four virtues is highlighted by Plato, followed by Aristote and the stoical philosophers. It is also known in the hellenized Judaism (Philon of Alexandria, IVe delivers of Maccabées) and at the Pères of the Church.

One finds it in a Greek book of the Old Testament, the book of Wisdom (8,7):
is the straightness Liked? The virtues are the fruits of its work, because she teaches temperance and prudence, justice and force.

Cardinal virtues and theological virtues

In Christianity, this group of four human virtues, cardinal, is supplemented by three virtues known as “theological” (Foi, hope and Charité) which makes them more perfect. Their unit is sometimes called that of the seven catholic Vertus.

From the Christian point of view, the human virtues acquired by education, deliberated acts and a perseverance always included in the effort, are purified and raised by the divine grace. With the assistance of God, they forge the character and give ease in practice good. The virtuous man is happy to practice them. The virtues are the fruits and the germs of the morally good acts; they lay out all the powers of the human being with communier with the divine love.

Cardinal virtue, justice is called “virtue of religion” when it is about justice towards God.

Saint Paul recalls that the theological virtues are not all three not intended to last eternally. At the end of times according to Christianity, the return of God will be an obviousness - and the faith will thus have any more raison d'être, no doubt which cannot remain on that which one is permanently pilot. The hope , will not be more setting since, all being achieved, it will be necessary no more to hope for anything of additional. Only will thus remain, says there, the charity - or love.

History of art - attributes of the cardinal virtues

In the works of art of the the Middle Ages and Rebirth, the virtues are generally represented under the features of women.

Their respective attributes are for example:

for prudence: mirror and snake;
for temperance: two containers with water passing from the one with the other;
for the force: sword;
for justice: balance.

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