The Guiding Hand: Prudence and Temperance in Harmony

In the intricate tapestry of human virtues, none are more profoundly intertwined than Prudence and Temperance. While Temperance governs our desires and appetites, ensuring moderation and balance, it is Prudence—the cardinal virtue of practical wisdom—that acts as its indispensable guide, determining the 'right measure' in every situation and thereby safeguarding against the pitfalls of vice. To truly understand and cultivate a life of virtue, one must recognize this foundational partnership, a cornerstone of classical philosophy from the ancient Greeks to medieval scholasticism.

Prudence: The Architect of Right Action

Prudence, or phronesis as Aristotle termed it in his Nicomachean Ethics, is not mere cleverness or cunning. It is the intellectual virtue that enables us to deliberate well about what is good for us, not in some abstract sense, but in the practical realities of life. It is the capacity to discern the appropriate course of action in a given situation, to choose the right means to achieve a good end.

Key Aspects of Prudence:

  • Right Reason in Action: As Thomas Aquinas elaborated, Prudence applies universal principles of reason to particular circumstances. It’s about making good judgments.
  • Memory of the Past, Understanding of the Present, Foresight of the Future: A truly prudent person learns from past experiences, accurately assesses current realities, and anticipates potential consequences.
  • The Charioteer of the Virtues: Plato, in his Republic, implicitly suggests Prudence (or Wisdom, in a broader sense) as the guiding force that harmonizes the soul's different parts, allowing other virtues to function correctly. Without Prudence, courage can become recklessness, and justice can become rigid dogmatism.

Temperance: The Discipline of Desire

Temperance, or sophrosyne, is the virtue that moderates the attraction to pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the bounds of what is honorable. It is not about asceticism or the denial of all pleasure, but about ordering our appetites rightly.

Understanding Temperance:

  • Moderation in Appetites: It primarily concerns our desires for food, drink, sex, and other bodily pleasures.
  • Freedom from Excess and Defect: As with all virtues, Temperance lies in the "golden mean" between two vices: gluttony and insensitivity (or excessive abstinence).
  • Inner Harmony: Plato, in his Charmides, explores Temperance as a kind of self-knowledge and inner order, where the lower parts of the soul are in submission to reason.

The Inseparable Bond: How Prudence Directs Temperance

Here lies the crux of their relationship: Temperance provides the inclination to moderate desires, but Prudence provides the specific knowledge of how and to what extent those desires should be moderated in any given instance. Prudence sets the boundaries for Temperance.

Consider the act of eating:

Aspect of Virtue Temperance's Role Prudence's Role
Goal To eat moderately, avoiding gluttony. To determine what is moderate for this person, at this time, for this purpose.
Guidance Inclination to avoid excess. Calculates portion size, appropriate food choices, timing of meals based on health, context, and goals.
Prevention of Vice Prevents overindulgence or extreme deprivation. Prevents choosing unhealthy foods, eating at inappropriate times, or eating to the detriment of other duties.

Without Prudence, Temperance can become blind rigor, leading to unhealthy asceticism or an arbitrary set of rules rather than a reasoned approach to well-being. Conversely, without Temperance, Prudence might discern the right path, but the will, swayed by unruly desires, would be unable to follow it. They are two sides of the same coin of self-mastery and wisdom.

The concept of the "golden mean" is central to Aristotle's ethics. Every virtue is a mean between two extremes of vice—one of excess and one of deficiency. Prudence is the faculty that identifies this mean in specific situations.

For instance:

  • Drinking Alcohol: Temperance dictates moderation. Prudence determines what moderation means for a particular individual given their health, responsibilities, social context, and personal history. One person's moderate consumption might be another's excess.
  • Spending Money: Temperance governs our desire for material possessions. Prudence guides us in discerning the appropriate amount to spend on necessities versus luxuries, saving versus giving, ensuring financial stability without stinginess or extravagance.

Prudence provides the intellectual framework, the practical wisdom, that allows Temperance to manifest not as rigid adherence to rules, but as an intelligent, flexible, and context-aware moderation that truly serves human flourishing.

(Image: A classical marble sculpture depicting a serene female figure, often identified as Prudence, holding a mirror to reflect self-knowledge and a snake, symbolizing foresight and wisdom. Her gaze is thoughtful and discerning, suggesting deep contemplation of action and consequence.)

Beyond Self-Denial: Cultivating True Wisdom

The synergy between Prudence and Temperance leads us beyond mere self-denial. It is not about suppressing desires for the sake of suppression, but about ordering them so that they serve our higher good and contribute to a life of wisdom and fulfillment. When our desires are well-ordered by Temperance, and our actions are well-reasoned by Prudence, we are free to pursue truly meaningful goals. We avoid the vices that enslave us to fleeting pleasures or rigid self-deprivation, and instead cultivate an inner freedom that allows for genuine happiness and contribution to society.

Conclusion: The Path to a Flourishing Life

The relationship between Prudence and Temperance is a powerful testament to the integrated nature of the virtues. Prudence is the guiding light, the practical wisdom that illuminates the path, while Temperance is the disciplined will that walks it, moderating our internal landscape. Together, they enable us to live lives that are not only free from the excesses and deficiencies of vice, but also rich in purpose, balance, and genuine human flourishing—a pursuit central to the Great Books of the Western World and timeless philosophical inquiry.

Video by: The School of Life

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