Virtue
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| - | [[Image:Joos van Cleve Flower (detail).jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Flower]]'' ([[16th century]]) by [[Joos van Cleve]] from ''[[Madonna and Child]]'']] | + | [[Image:Allegory of Chastity by Memling.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Allegory of Chastity (Hans Memling)|Allegory of Chastity]]'' (1475) by Hans Memling]] |
| - | {{Template}}'''Virtue''' ([[Latin]] ''virtus'' is [[morality|moral]] [[excellence]] of a person. A virtue is a [[Moral character|character]] trait [[Value (personal and cultural)|valued]] as being [[Goodness and value theory|good]]. The conceptual opposite of virtue is [[vice]]. | + | [[Image:Bouguereau Innocence.jpg|thumb|200px|''[[Innocence]]'' (1893) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau: both young [[children]] and [[lamb]]s are symbols of goodness]] |
| + | {{Template}} | ||
| + | '''Virtue''' is [[morality|moral]] [[excellence]]. A virtue is a [[trait]] or [[quality]] that is deemed to be morally [[good]] and thus is [[Value (ethics)|valued]] as a foundation of [[principle]] and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards: doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. The opposite of virtue is [[vice]]. | ||
| - | According to its etymology the word virtue (Latin virtus) signifies manliness or courage. Taken in its widest sense virtue means the excellence of perfection of a thing, just as vice, its contrary, denotes a defect or absence of perfection due to a thing. In its strictest meaning, however, as used by moral philosophers and theologians, virtue is an operative habit essentially good, as distinguished from vice, an operative habit essentially evil. The four cardinal (hinge) virtues are Justice, Courage, Wisdom, and Moderation. These were enumerated by the Greek philosophers. The three supernatural virtues of Faith, Hope and (unselfish) Love are part of the Christian tradition. Both the natural and supernatural virtues depend on a person's understanding that truth can be discovered. Modernist views are at odds with this idea. | + | ==Etymology== |
| + | 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. In the 13th century, the word ''virtue'' was "borrowed into English". | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Bushido]] | ||
| + | * [[Civic virtue]] | ||
| + | * [[Common good]] | ||
| + | * [[Consequentialism]] | ||
| + | * [[Defence mechanism#Level 4: mature]] | ||
| + | * [[Epistemic virtue]] | ||
| + | * [[Evolution of morality]] | ||
| + | * [[Foresight (psychology)]] | ||
| + | * [[Humanity (virtue)]] | ||
| + | * [[Ideal (ethics)]] | ||
| + | * [[Intellectual virtues]] | ||
| + | * [[Moral character]] | ||
| + | * [[Nonviolence]] | ||
| + | * [[Prussian virtues]] | ||
| + | * [[Value theory]] | ||
| + | * [[Virtue signalling]] | ||
| - | Virtue can also be meant in another way. Virtue can either have [[normative]] or moral [[goodness and value theory|value]]; i.e. the virtue of a knife is to cut, the virtue of an excellent knife is to cut well (this is its normative value) vs. the virtues of reason, prudence, chastity, etc. (which have moral value). | ||
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| - | In the Greek it is more properly called ''ēthikē aretē''. It is "habitual excellence". It is something practiced at all times. The virtue of perseverance is needed for all and any virtue since it is a habit of character and must be used continuously in order for any person to maintain oneself in virtue. However, Friedrich Nietzsche stated that 'when virtue has slept, it will arise all the more vigorous'. | ||
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Virtue is moral excellence. 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. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards: doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. The opposite of virtue is vice.
[edit]
Etymology
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. In the 13th century, the word virtue was "borrowed into English".
[edit]
See also
- Bushido
- Civic virtue
- Common good
- Consequentialism
- Defence mechanism#Level 4: mature
- Epistemic virtue
- Evolution of morality
- Foresight (psychology)
- Humanity (virtue)
- Ideal (ethics)
- Intellectual virtues
- Moral character
- Nonviolence
- Prussian virtues
- Value theory
- Virtue signalling
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