Integral Parts of Prudence
"Integral parts" of virtues, in Scholastic philosophy, are the elements that must be present for any complete or perfect act of the virtue. The following are the integral parts of prudence:
- Memoria — Accurate memory; that is, memory that is true to reality
- Intelligentia — Understanding of first principles
- Docilitas — The kind of open-mindedness that recognizes the true variety of things and situations to be experienced, and does not cage itself in any presumption of deceptive knowledge; the ability to make use of the experience and authority of others to make prudent decisions
- Shrewdness or quick-wittedness (solertia) — sizing up a situation on one's own quickly
- Discursive reasoning (ratio) — research and compare alternative possibilities
- Foresight (providentia) — capacity to estimate whether a particular action will lead to the realization of our goal
- Circumspection — ability to take all relevant circumstances into account
- Caution — risk mitigation
Read more about this topic: Prudence
Famous quotes containing the words integral, parts and/or prudence:
“... no one who has not been an integral part of a slaveholding community, can have any idea of its abominations.... even were slavery no curse to its victims, the exercise of arbitrary power works such fearful ruin upon the hearts of slaveholders, that I should feel impelled to labor and pray for its overthrow with my last energies and latest breath.”
—Angelina Grimké (1805–1879)
“It’s wonderful how I jog
on four-honed-down ivory toes
my massive buttocks slipping
like oiled parts with each light step.”
—Philip Levine (b. 1928)
“The awful daring of a moment’s surrender
Which an age of prudence can never retract.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)