Cardinal virtues
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In the Christian church, there are four cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. These were derived initially from Plato's scheme (see Protagoras 330b, which also includes piety (hosiotes)) and adapted by Saint Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Aquinas (see Summa Theologica II(I).61).
These "cardinal" virtues are not the same as the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (see 1 Corinthians 13). Together, they comprise what is known as the seven cardinal virtues, also known as the heavenly virtues..
History of the Virtues
While history suggests that the first four date back to Greek philosophers and were applicable to all people seeking to live moral lives, the theological virtues appear to be specific to Christians as written by Paul in The New Testament.
In Genesis, Chapter 28 Jacob describes his vision of a ladder or stairway leading to heaven. In oral tradition, the three principle rungs on the ladder were denominated Faith, Hope and Love. (The King James Version of the Bible uses "charity," but "charity" was derived from caritas, or "love.") These three are mentioned in Chapter 13 of First Corinthians: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Because of this reference, the seven attributes are sometimes grouped as four cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice) and three heavenly graces (faith, hope, charity).
The cardinal virtues are distinguished from the capital virtues. The capital virtues are often paired with the much more widely known capital (or "deadly") sins. The capital virtues are: humility, liberality, brotherly love, meekness, chastity, temperance, and diligence. The capital sins, sometimes called the "seven deadly sins," are pride, avarice (greed), envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.