Deciding what's Good | 4 Cardinal Virtues

A large problem in our modern world, is the inability to assess the goodness of our statements or actions according to something other than our own opinions. We have lost an understanding of what virtue is and how to apply it in our modern world.

People are walking around determining for themselves the goodness of things or their interactions usually according to what provides benefit or gives pleasure. There is very little universal standard upon which most people can relate.

Virtues used to be common place and accepted standards by which all behaviour would be assessed. To use a modern concept, they would have been mental models by which behaviour would be assessed.

The ability to depend on external and objective measures to assess a particular situation is invaluable. By doing so, it neutralises unfounded emotion which clouds reason and avoids iron clad laws of behaviour since virtue applied, is always unique, nuanced and situation dependent. This avoids creating ironclad laws and expectations that result in conflict. And perhaps most important of all, it creates an atmosphere of humility in which such an assessment might be proffered. This itself is virtuous.

According to tradition there are 4 cardinal virtues; justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude. They are cardinal since they stem from the Latin cardo which means hinge. Apparently there are 66 virtues in total, but they all hinge on these 4 virtues. Which is quite bewildering to think that all virtuous behaviour can fit 4 categories.

Sadly we no longer live in a culture that encourages mastering all 66 virtues, but just knowing and putting these 4 into practice, should create a more orderly and virtuous life.