Virtue

Virtue (from Latin: virtus, Greek: ἀρετή arete) generally denotes the ability and inner attitude to do the good that has become one's innermost nature with inclination, that is, easily and joyfully. In so far as the virtues represent such permanent and self-evident good habits, they have their roots in the etheric body of man just as much as the vices which counteract them as permanent bad habits.

The 7 principal virtues

Raphael: The Cardinal and Divine Virtues and the Law, 1511, Stanza della Segnatura (south wall), Vatican

In the Christian occidental cultural sphere, seven principal virtues have repeatedly been contrasted with the corresponding 7 principal lasses. The most widespread compilation is that which results from the combination of the four Platonic cardinal virtues with the three Pauline virtues. This compilation corresponds to a spiritual truth, because the 7 virtues correspond to the 7 regions of the astral world. In a very early lecture given in Berlin on 2 December 1903, Rudolf Steiner makes the following attribution.

Plato named the following four main virtues, which correspond to the lower four regions of the soul world:

• Justice (Latin: iustitia; Greek: δικαιοσύνη dikaiosýne) - region of burning of desire.
• Temperance (Latin: temperantia; Greek: σωφροσύνη sophrosýne) - region of mobile sensitivity.
• Fortitude (Latin: fortitudo; Greek: ανδρεία andreia) - region of wishes.
• Prudence (wisdom) (Latin: prudentia, sapientia; Greek: σοφία sophia) - region of liking and disliking.

The three Pauline virtues correspond with the 3 highest regions of the soul world:

• Faith (Latin: fides; Greek: πίστις pistis) - region of soul light.
• Hope (Latin: spes; Greek: ἐλπίς elpis) - region of active soul force.
• Love (Latin: caritas; Greek: αγάπη agape) - region of soul life

Literature

• Sebastian Gronbach: Die Kraft der Tugend: Ein Begleiter durch das Jahr, INFO 3 Vlg., Frankfurt a.M. 2010
• Ralph Valenteano: Es strebe zu meiner Seele Liebe.... 12 Meditationen zu Rudolf Steiners Monatstugenden, Audio-CD, Schirner Vlg., Darmstadt 2011
• Rudolf Steiner: Über die astrale Welt und das Devachan, GA 88 (1999), ISBN 3-7274-0880-4 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Seelenübungen, GA 267 (2001), ISBN 3-7274-2670-5 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated. Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.