The Virtue Project

The History of Virtue

Throughout the history of human civilization, virtue has been expressed and understood in similar but distinct ways. It isn’t until you start to compile the lists of virtue that have existed in various millennia, continents, and cultures that you begin to understand how important the concept of virtue is to the flourishing of both the individual and society as a whole.

I have compiled as many of those cultural expressions of virtue as I can find, and plan to keep adding to and modifying the list as I learn more. But first, what do we do with this information? After all, information is nothing until you do something with it.

How To Use This List

1. Macro before micro

What I mean is that you should look at the big picture first before getting lost in the details.

Consider as you read them the significance of so many vastly different cultures all coming to the same conclusion that humanity needs an ideal standard of virtue outside of themselves to aim at.

Consider the paradoxical implication that virtue is not inherently demonstrated within us, yet is universally seen as essential to human flourishing. If virtuous action is not hardwired into our DNA, then why does a standard of virtue show up in every civilization?

Also, consider how important it is to have a commonly accepted list of virtue so that parents, educators, employers, judges, and citizens can all work together to produce a virtuous society.

And what comes first, virtuous individuals or a virtuous society?

2. Adopt a standard of virtue

The unfortunate reality is that the society we live in does not have a commonly accepted list of virtues. What one group calls virtuous, another group calls evil. So what option do you have if you want to adopt a standard of virtue in your own life?

One option is to construct your own list based on what is important to you. The problem with this is that a standard of virtue is supposed to challenge the person we are, not to simply affirm us as we are. You might be tempted to choose only virtues that you already naturally demonstrate and resonate with. That seems like a rather fruitless endeavor.

A better option would be to adopt one of these lists in its entirety. You can still run into problems since you will likely be choosing your favorite list, but at least you will have to adopt as a whole what some culture somewhere thought was sufficient to make a virtuous person.

History of Virtue

Ancient Egyptian: Ma’at

  1. Truth
  2. Balance
  3. Order
  4. Law
  5. Morality
  6. Justice

Plato (Cardinal Virtues)

  1. Temperance
  2. Prudence
  3. Courage
  4. Justice

Virtue is the desire of things honourable and the power of attaining them

Plato, Meno

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics)

  1. Courage
  2. Temperance
  3. Liberality
  4. Magnificence
  5. Pride
  6. Honor
  7. Good Temper
  8. Friendliness
  9. Truthfulness
  10. Wit
  11. Friendship
  12. Justice

Roman Virtues (public and private virtues)

  1. Abundantia (abundance, plenty)
  2. Auctoritas (spiritual authority)
  3. Comitas (humor)
  4. Constantia (perseverance)
  5. Clementia (mercy)
  6. Dignitas (dignity)
  7. Disciplina (discipline)
  8. Fides (good faith)
  9. Firmitas (tenacity)
  10. Gravitas (gravity)
  11. Honestas (respectability)
  12. Humanitas (humanity)
  13. Industria (hard work)
  14. Innocencia (selfless)
  15. Laetitia (joy, gladness)
  16. Nobilitas (nobility)
  17. Justitia (justice)
  18. Pietas (dutifulness)
  19. Prudentia (prudence)
  20. Salubritas (wholesomeness)
  21. Severitas (sternness, self-control)
  22. Veritas (truthfulness)
  23. Virtus (manliness, valor)

Catechism of the Catholic Church (aka the 7 virtues/Christian virtues)

Classical Cardinal Virtues

  1. Prudence
  2. Justice
  3. Temperance
  4. Courage (fortitude)

Theological Virtues

  1. Faith
  2. Hope
  3. Charity

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good.”

Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her worth is far above rubies.
    - Proverbs 31:10

Psychomachia by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (410 AD)

  1. Chastity (vs. lust)
  2. Temperance (vs. gluttony)
  3. Charity (vs. greed)
  4. Diligence (vs. sloth)
  5. Patience (vs. wrath)
  6. Kindness (vs. envy)
  7. Humility (vs. pride)

Chivalric Virtues by Charlemagne (8th Century)

  1. Love God
  2. Love your neighbour
  3. Give alms to the poor
  4. Entertain strangers
  5. Visit the sick
  6. Be merciful to prisoners
  7. Do ill to no man, nor consent unto such
  8. Forgive as ye hope to be forgiven
  9. Redeem the captive
  10. Help the oppressed
  11. Defend the cause of the widow and orphan
  12. Render righteous judgement
  13. Do not consent to any wrong
  14. Persevere not in wrath
  15. Shun excess in eating and drinking
  16. Be humble and kind
  17. Serve your liege lord faithfully
  18. Do not steal
  19. Do not perjure yourself, nor let others do so
  20. Envy, hatred and violence separate men from the Kingdom of God
  21. Defend the Church and promote her cause.

Benjamin Franklin (1790) (Autobiography on Amazon)

  1. Temperance: Eat not to Dullness. Drink not to Elevation.
  2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.
  3. Order: Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
  4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
  5. Frugality: Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. Waste nothing.
  6. Industry: Lose no Time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
  7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
  8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
  9. Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
  10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.
  11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
  12. Chastity: Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.
  13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

Benjamin Franklin

Ayn Rand

  1. Reason

The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett (1993) (Amazon)

  1. Self-discipline
  2. Compassion
  3. Responsibility
  4. Friendship
  5. Work
  6. Courage
  7. Perseverance
  8. Honesty
  9. Loyalty
  10. Faith

Character Strengths and Virtues by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman (2004) (Amazon)

  1. Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation
  2. Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality, zest
  3. Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence
  4. Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership
  5. Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self control
  6. Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality

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