he controls of the appetites are virtues. Only then has he the chance to live. Since when the appetites control man, the meaning of life is lost.The VirtuesWhat is a proper definition of virtue? I believe the following quote from Man as Man, page 150, is a suitable place to start. Virtue derives from the Latin virtus, which means “power.” Applied to many things, virtue is the natural power or function of a thing. It is the virtue of the ear to hear, … But virtue is more than the mere power to act; it is the power to act well. Aristotle continues to elaborate on the conditions by extending them to man. Virtue to Aristotle is a state of character. It makes a man good as well as induces his work to be well done. (Pocket Ar., 188) St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas both agree on the definition of virtue as being “ Virtue is a good quality of the mind, by which we live righteously, of which no one can make bad use; which God works in us, without us.” (Pocket Aq., 206) It is a quote by Aquinas of Augustine’s definition. Both definitions agree that a virtue is a character state or quality that makes its object good. They also agree that it causes the work of the object to be well done. Since this definition agrees with Aristotle and the quote in most points. I will use the prior and say that a virtue is a state of character, which makes its object good and induces its work to be well done. Types of virtuesMultiple virtues exist. There must be a way to categorize these virtues. The virtues are basically classified according to their object. The main types of virtues to which I will be discussing are those that affect the intellect, will, and the appetites. There are two basic types of intellect- speculative and practical. Each has its own virtues. The speculative intellect has wisdom, science, and understanding as its virtues. The practical intellect has synderesis, prudence, and ar...
