INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES

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Good habits of the mind, enabling it to be a more efficient instrument of knowledge.
They are distinguished from the moral virtues, since they do not, as such, make one
a better person. They make one more effective in the use of what he or she knows
and, to that extent, contribute to the practice of moral virtue. According to Aristotle
and St. Thomas Aquinas, there are five intellectual virtues: three pertaining to the
theoretical or speculative intellect concerned with the contemplation of the true; and
two pertaining to the practical intellect, concerned with the two forms of action,
making and doing.
The three speculative intellectual virtues are understanding, science, and wisdom.
Understanding (Greek nous, intuitive mind) is the habit of first principles. It is the
habitual knowledge of primary self-evident truths that lie at the root of all
knowledge. Science (Greek epist_m_, knowledge) is the habit of conclusions drawn
by demonstration from first principles. It is the habitual knowledge of the particular
sciences. Wisdom (Greek sophia, wisdom) is the habit of knowing things in their
highest causes. It is the organized knowledge of all principles and conclusions in the
truth called philosophy.
The two practical intellectual virtues are art and prudence. Art (Greek techne,
craftsmanship) is the habit of knowing how to make things, how to produce some
external object. As a practical virtue, it includes the mechanical and fine arts and
most liberal arts. Prudence (Greek phron_sis, practical wisdom) is the habit of
knowing how to do things, how to direct activity that does not result in tangible
products. It enables one to live a good human life and is the only one of the
intellectual virtues that cannot exist apart from the moral virtues.

Intellectual virtues are character traits necessary for right action and correct thinking.
They include: a sense of justice, perseverance, empathy, integrity, intellectual
courage, confidence in reason, and autonomy.
The noun SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE has 1 sense:
1. according to Christian ethics: one of the three virtues (faith and hope and charity) created
by God to round out the natural virtues


Natural Virtue
ipinapakita ang likas na disposisyon na isang tao.