Plato: 4 Cardinal Virtues

 Plato outlined four cardinal virtues in The Republic that form the foundation of both an ideal society and a well-ordered human soul. [1, 2]

The Four Cardinal Virtues

• Wisdom (Sophia / Prudence): Assigned to the rational part of the soul (and the ruling class in a city), wisdom involves knowing what is truly good and guiding decisions with reason. [1, 2, 3]
• Courage (Andreia / Fortitude): Assigned to the spirited/auxiliary part of the soul (and the warrior class), courage is the strength to hold onto true beliefs and face fear or temptation. [1, 2, 3]
• Temperance (Sophrosyne / Moderation): Shared across all parts of the soul (and most closely linked to the producing/artisanal class), temperance is self-control, balance, and the moderation of animal appetites. [1, 2, 3]
• Justice (Dikaiosyne): The highest virtue that stands above the other three. Justice occurs when every part of the soul (or every class in the city) performs its proper role in harmony without overstepping. [1, 2]

How They Connect

• Tripartite Soul: Plato mapped these virtues to the three parts of the human mind: reason (Wisdom), spirit (Courage), and appetite (Temperance), with Justice acting as the overarching harmony of the whole. [1, 2]
• Legacy: These four traits later became known as the cardinal virtues (from the Latin cardo, meaning "hinge"), influencing Stoic, Christian, and Western ethical traditions. [1, 2, 3]