(Greek αρετη; Latin virtus) Virtue is moral excellence of a man or a woman. The word is derived from the Greek arete (αρετη). As applied to humans, a virtue is a good character trait. The Latin word virtus literally means "manliness," from vir, "man" in the masculine sense; and referred originally to masculine, warlike virtues such as courage. In one of the many ironies of etymology, in English the word virtue is often used to refer to a woman's chastity. Virtue can also be meant in another way. V ...

Including:

• Virtue - The four virtues
• Virtue - Virtue in the Western philosophical tradition
• Virtue - The unity of the virtues
• Virtue - Prudence and virtue
• Virtue - The Christian virtues
• Virtue - Virtue and vice
• Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues
• Virtue - Virtue in Chinese philosophy
• Virtue - Occurrences of the word 'Virtue'

Read more here: » Virtue: Encyclopedia - Virtue

The seven capital vices or seven deadly sins suggest a classification of vices and were enumerated by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions them as "capital sins which Christian experience has distinguished, following St. John Cassian and St. Gregory the Great."[1] "Capital" here means that these sins stand at the head (Latin caput) of the other sins which proceed from them, e.g., t ...

See also:

Virtue, Virtue - The four virtues, Virtue - Virtue in the Western philosophical tradition, Virtue - The unity of the virtues, Virtue - Prudence and virtue, Virtue - The Christian virtues, Virtue - Virtue and vice, Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues, Virtue - Virtue in Chinese philosophy, Virtue - Occurrences of the word 'Virtue'

Read more here: » Virtue: Encyclopedia II - Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues

The opposite of a virtue is a vice. One way of organizing the vices is as the corruption of the virtues. Thus the cardinal vices would be folly, venality, cowardice and lust. The Christian theological vices would be blasphemy, despair, and hatred. However, as Aristotle noted, the virtues can have several opposites. Virtues can be considered the mean between two extremes. For instance, both cowardice and rashness are opposites of courage; contrary to prudence are both over-caution and insufficient caution. A more "modern" virtue, toler ...

See also:

Virtue, Virtue - The four virtues, Virtue - Virtue in the Western philosophical tradition, Virtue - The unity of the virtues, Virtue - Prudence and virtue, Virtue - The Christian virtues, Virtue - Virtue and vice, Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues, Virtue - Virtue in Chinese philosophy, Virtue - Occurrences of the word 'Virtue'

Read more here: » Virtue: Encyclopedia II - Virtue - Virtue and vice

Classically, some philosophers, most notably Plato and Aristotle, said that in order to pursue any of these virtues perfectly, one would have to master them all. For example, in order to be just, one must be wise. The thesis of the unity of the virtues is controversial - one might argue that humans can be courageous without being wise - but it is often defended, particularly in Plato's early dialogues, by the claim that all virtues are a single sort of knowledge, perhaps 'knowledge of good and evil'. Thus, to fail to possess one of the virtues shows that one lacks the knowledge ...

See also:

Virtue, Virtue - The four virtues, Virtue - Virtue in the Western philosophical tradition, Virtue - The unity of the virtues, Virtue - Prudence and virtue, Virtue - The Christian virtues, Virtue - Virtue and vice, Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues, Virtue - Virtue in Chinese philosophy, Virtue - Occurrences of the word 'Virtue'

Read more here: » Virtue: Encyclopedia II - Virtue - The unity of the virtues

The four classic Western "cardinal" virtues are: prudence/wisdom justice fortitude/courage temperance The four classic Islamic "cardinal" virtues are: Shiddiq : prudence/wisdom/truthful Tabligh : communicative Amanah : trustworthy Fathanah : intelligent or smart ...

See also:

Virtue, Virtue - The four virtues, Virtue - Virtue in the Western philosophical tradition, Virtue - The unity of the virtues, Virtue - Prudence and virtue, Virtue - The Christian virtues, Virtue - Virtue and vice, Virtue - Capital Vices and Virtues, Virtue - Virtue in Chinese philosophy, Virtue - Occurrences of the word 'Virtue'

Read more here: » Virtue: Encyclopedia II - Virtue - The four virtues