philosophy
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Love is the queen of the virtues; the one that binds the others together. But in our modern culture, we throw that word around loosely, so what does love actually mean? And how do we distort it to our own desires? Definition of Charity (Love) Charity (Love) is the theological virtue by which we love…
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The Foundation of our Hope As we discussed in our primer on the Theological Virtues, what distinguishes the Theological Virtues from the Cardinal Virtues is that they are not cultivated for their own sake. The cardinal virtues were the end unto themselves, but the moral virtues point towards a greater good, a greater end, something worth…
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The True Foundation of the West Our discussion on virtue is now going to take a sharp theological turn. The 4 Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, & Temperance) were written about repeatedly throughout the great literature in Greek days, but there seemed to be something missing in these writings. According to Aristotle (The Ethics), the ultimate goal of…
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This article is based on Mortimer Adler’s article on “Courage” in The Great Ideas. Definition of Fortitude (Courage) Fortitude is firmness when facing difficulties in carrying out one’s duty. It is directly tied to a courageous act in known danger, towards a noble ideal. If there is one virtue that separates the heroes of the great…
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This article is based on Mortimer Adler’s article on “Justice” in The Great Ideas. Definition of Justice Justice is the constant and firm will to give their due to both God and neighbor. Humans have an innate sense of justice, especially when it involves them. This can be seen in the youngest child, who demands justice…
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This article is based on Mortimer Adler’s article on “Temperance” in The Great Ideas. Definition of Temperance Temperance, or moderation, is simply the appropriate use of pleasures and goods. Most of the great figures in history are people of passion, drive, limitless energy, and rarely moderation. This is not to say that these men of renown are undisciplined. They are…
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This article is based on Mortimer Adler’s article on “Prudence” in The Great Ideas. Definition of Prudence Prudence is using practical reason to see the true good in every circumstance and to choose the correct action. Of the Cardinal Virtues, Prudence is the least intellectual, yet the most experiential. It is as much moral as it is academic. Someone…
The Great Books 