: Often referred to as the "Seven Deadly Sins"—pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth—which are countered by "remedial" virtues like humility, charity, and patience.
: Foundational traits like prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
: True virtue is often distinguished from "continence," or strength of will. While a continent person struggles against a vice to do the right thing, the fully virtuous person acts rightly without inner conflict. Virtues and Their Vices
Historically, virtues like , justice , and temperance have been viewed as intermediaries between two distinct vices: a deficiency and an excess. For example, courage exists as a noble mean between the deficiency of cowardice and the excess of recklessness .
: Virtues and vices are formed through habit. If a virtue like temperance is not actively practiced, it can erode over time, allowing competing non-temperate actions to take root. Foundational Classifications : Often referred to as the "Seven Deadly
Modern and historical scholarship, such as the comprehensive volume Virtues and Their Vices by Kevin Timpe and Craig A. Boyd, categorizes these traits into distinct sections to better understand their roles in human life:
: Faith, hope, and charity, which are often viewed as surpassing natural capacity and requiring divine grace. Virtue Ethics - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy While a continent person struggles against a vice
The exploration of " Virtues and Their Vices " reveals a complex landscape where moral excellence is often defined not just by the presence of "good" traits, but by the precise balance maintained between opposing extremes. The Interplay of Character