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Single Idea 82

[from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle, in 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / a. Practical reason ]

Full Idea

The possession of the single virtue of prudence will carry with it the possession of them all.

Clarification

'Prudence' is Greek word 'phronesis', for which the translation 'practical reason' is nowadays preferred

Gist of Idea

The one virtue of prudence carries with it the possession of all the other virtues

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1145a02)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.225


A Reaction

Prudence is phronesis, of which I prefer the translation 'common sense', thought he scholars call it 'practical wisdom'. People can be sensible in one are, and stupid in another.

Related Idea

Idea 4117 Nowadays we (unlike Aristotle) seem agreed that someone can have one virtue but lack others [Williams,B on Aristotle]