The Practical Wisdom "Muscle Group"
(originally published in the Handbook of Human Formation, by Cameron Thompson)
Muscle Group 1: Practical Wisdom (Prudence)
Prudence is the strength of character that is the habit of deliberating well and putting right decision into action in the right way and at the right time.
In other words, it is the habit of knowing what to do in appropriate circumstances, and actually following through by doing it. Prudence is generally opposed to Imprudence (deciding on and doing the wrong thing), Negligence, Deception/Duplicity, Indecision, and Unreliability.
As I said in an earlier post, each of the Four Primary Virtues (aka Cardinal Virtues) is more like a muscle group, composed of a number of more specific Subsidiary Virtues. Remember, virtues are not some abstract principle like values. Virtues are real habits of measurable skillfulness that become deep traits.
The Specific “Muscles”:
The Subsidiary Virtues of Prudence are:
Good Deliberation: This is the habit of thoughtfulness or deliberating well, taking good counsel and planning things out accordingly.
Rules-Based Judgment: This is the habit of sound practical judgment of general cases, pertaining to the law and prescriptive rules.
“Good Sense” Judgment: This is the habit of sound practical judgment in exceptional cases where prescriptive law no longer is appropriate, pertaining to the greater good according to the universal law of nature.
The habit of prudence differs in different domains of application.
Prudence itself is specified according to five different domains requiring its exercise:
Individual Prudence: deciding well and acting rightly in regard to your own relationship to the good and what is good for you.
Governmental Prudence: good and effective leadership of others in an organization.
Civic Prudence: deciding well and acting rightly in regard to the common good, the law, and one’s responsibility to others – e.g. reliability.
Domestic Prudence: the ability to effectively and rightly manage your family, financial, and household concerns and responsibilities.
Strategic Prudence: deciding well and acting rightly in military or strategic affairs.