Prudence

1
Prudence

• Lecture 3
• Cognition and Decision

2
Cardinal Virtues

• Cardinal cardo
• Means pivot or hinge

• Prudence
• Justice
• Temperance
• Fortitude

3
Prudence

• Perfected practical reason directed towards the
  realization of the good.
• It is directing cognition.

• Cognition
• The mental action or process of acquiring
  knowledge and understanding through thought,
  experience, and the senses.
• Turned towards objective reality.

• Decision
• A conclusion or resolution reached after
  consideration.
• Turned toward volition and action the
  realization of the good.

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Clarifications

• Means or ends?
• Cognition and Decision
• Voluntarism
• Particular Person

5
Pieper on Cognition

• Memoria
• Docilitas
• Solertia

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Pieper on Cognition

• Memoria
• Not the capacity for recollection / capacity not
  to forget
• Is true-to-being memory
• It is the container of the truth of real things
  and events as they really are and were.
• Importance of the knowledge of truth
• The objective cognition of reality (truth) shall
  determine action that the truth of real things
  shall become determinative.

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Pieper on Cognition

• Docilitas
• Not docility ready to accept instruction
  submissive.
• Is an open-mindedness, or the ability to take
  advice, from the desire for real understanding
  (truth).
• Does not hold preconceived notions or prejudices
• Does not have a know-it-all attitude

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Pieper on Cognition

• Solertia
• When one is confronted with a sudden and
  unexpected event
• Not close their eyes and by reflex blindly take
  random action.
• Is with eyes open and clear-sighted vision,
  decide for the good, avoiding injustice,
  cowardice, and intemperance.

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Pieper on Decision

• Certainty?
• Is it necessary?
• The certitude of prudence cannot be so great as
  to completely remove all anxiety. - Aquinas
• Volition
• The faculty or power of using ones will.
• Action / Realization
• The fulfillment or achievement of something
  desired or anticipated.
• It involves the here and now.

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Aquinas on Prudence

• Deliberation
• Gather all relevant information. Seek the truth.
• Observation - Remember law of gravity?
• Reason - our intellects
• Revelation - God has revealed things about
  Himself and us.
• Judgment
• Weigh all of the evidence. What are the pros and
  cons?
• Execution
• Put into action the decision you have come to.

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Sins Against Prudence

• Rashness
• The failure to consider carefully before actions.
• Acting without thinking
• Talking without thinking
• Indecision
• Weigh the evidence (deliberation) but never
  execute the judgment.
• Irresoluteness
• Make decisions (judgment) but never follow
  through with them.

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