virtude

Virtue refers to a trait or quality that is morally good or desirable in a person, and that enables living well. Virtues are stable dispositions that guide judgment and action, often cultivated through habit and reflection. The term comes from Latin virtus, meaning courage, excellence, or manliness, and was borrowed into English via Old French vertu.

In the classical tradition, Aristotle argued that virtue lies in choosing the mean between extremes, guided by reason. Moral virtue is formed by habituation; a virtuous person acts consistently in accordance with rational choice. The four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, temperance, and courage—have been central in Western ethics; Christian theology added theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity.

Beyond Greece and Rome, many traditions discuss virtues in different terms. In Confucian thought, benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), propriety (li), and wisdom are central; in Indian philosophy, dharma and sattva play similar roles. Comparative ethics studies consider cross-cultural notions of virtue and vice.

In contemporary philosophy, virtue ethics as developed by modern thinkers emphasizes character and moral development rather than rules or consequences alone. Proponents argue that virtues enable reliable moral judgment; critics raise concerns about cultural relativity, the vagueness of the virtue concept, and how to adjudicate conflicting virtues. In everyday usage, “virtue” can also refer to positive traits in non-moral domains, such as professional virtues like integrity and accountability.