Virtue

Virtue (Greek αρετη; Latin virtus) is the habitual, well-established, readiness or disposition of man's powers directing them to some goodness of act. (1) Virtue is moral excellence of a man or a woman. The word αρετη 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.

The unity of the virtues

Classically, some philosophers, most notably 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, or good tempered without being just.

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In particular, Aristotle says these virtues are harmonized: dianoethic (built by rationality; νουσ των αρxων - understanding of substance, επιστημη - science,

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σοφια - wisdom, τεxνη - practical craft,

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φρονεσιs - practical mind) and ethic (built by custom;

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main: ανδρεια - courage, σoφρoσυνη - temperance; property-based: ελευεθεριoτηs - generosity, μεγαλoπρoπεια - goodwilling; honor-based: μεγαλoπσυxια - pride, φιλoτινια - assertivity, πραoτηs - control of anger; social: ευτραπελια - wittiness, αλεθεια - truthfulness, φιλια - friendliness; political: δικαιoσυνη - justice) virtues.

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Nietzsche is one of the more notable philosophers who explicitly denies the unity of the virtues, claiming that they are mutually incompatible.

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