Virtue Development in Philosophical Counseling
Understanding the Seven Virtues
The concept of virtue has long occupied the heart of moral philosophy and spiritual thought. In its broadest sense, virtue refers to a stable disposition to act well, a cultivated excellence of character that guides both our inner life and outward conduct. Traditionally, Western philosophy and Traditional Christian theology identify seven virtues that form a complete framework for moral excellence: faith, hope, love (or charity), wisdom (prudence), justice, courage (fortitude), and temperance.
These virtues are often divided into two groups. The first three—faith, hope, and love—are known as the theological virtues because they orient the human person toward the divine and transcend purely human effort. The remaining four—wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance—are called the cardinal virtues (from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge”) because all other moral virtues “hinge” upon them.
Together these seven virtues describe a vision of authentic human development: faith and hope give meaning and direction, love animates relationships with self and others, wisdom and justice guide action toward the common good, and courage and temperance balance passion and reason. Cultivating these virtues is not merely about performing isolated good deeds; it is about forming a character that consistently chooses and enjoys what is truly good.
Virtue in Aristotle and Classical Philosophy
In classical philosophy, particularly in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, virtue (aretē) is the excellence of the human soul. Aristotle begins with the question of the highest human good and concludes that the goal of life is eudaimonia—often translated as “flourishing” or “living well.” Virtue is the essential means to achieve this flourishing, shaping one’s desires and actions in accordance with reason.
Aristotle famously articulates the Doctrine of the Mean, describing virtue as the balanced mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency. For example, courage lies between recklessness and cowardice; temperance balances self-indulgence and insensibility; generosity stands between wastefulness and stinginess. This “mean” is not a simple average but the right action at the right time, guided by practical wisdom (phronēsis).
He distinguishes between moral virtues, such as courage and justice, which govern emotions and desires, and intellectual virtues, such as wisdom and understanding, which perfect reasoning itself. Virtue, for Aristotle, is not innate: it is acquired through habituation and practice. By repeatedly performing virtuous acts, a person forms a stable character so that doing what is good becomes both natural and joyful.
The classical tradition—including Plato and the Stoics—likewise views virtue as the excellence of the soul, the harmony of reason, desire, and action. These insights profoundly shaped later Christian moral teaching.
Virtue in Traditional Christian Teaching
Traditional Christianity adopts and deepens the classical understanding of virtue, integrating it with the revelation of Christ. Within traditional Christianity, virtue is understood as a “habitual and firm disposition to do the good”. Virtue is not merely human effort; it requires a synergy with divine grace that directs the believer toward God and eternal life.
Christian tradition preserves the cardinal virtues—wisdom (prudence), justice, courage (fortitude), and temperance—as the foundational habits for moral living. But it adds the theological virtues—faith, hope, and love (charity)—which are infused by God and orient the human person directly toward the divine.
Faith trusts in God’s revelation and remains firm even amid uncertainty.
Hope sustains confidence in God’s promises and eternal happiness.
Charity is the highest virtue: self-giving love of God and neighbor.
These virtues grow through both human cooperation and divine grace. By prayer, sacramental life, and deliberate moral effort, a person’s intellect and will are shaped to reflect the life of Christ. For traditional Christianity, virtue leads not only to personal morality but to holiness and authentic human development, forming a person capable of both earthly justice and eternal communion with God.
Virtue and Authentic Human Development in Philosophical Counseling
In contemporary philosophical counseling, which uses the methods of philosophy to address personal and existential questions, the cultivation of the seven virtues offers a powerful path to becoming an authentic human being. Philosophical counseling does not impose religious belief; rather, it helps clients examine their values, clarify their reasoning, and align their lives with enduring ideals of human excellence.
By engaging with the seven virtues, a person learns to integrate rational insight and moral character:
Wisdom fosters clear thinking and sound judgment.
Justice directs relationships toward fairness and mutual respect.
Courage empowers action despite fear or difficulty.
Temperance cultivates balance in desires and emotions.
Faith, hope, and Love, understood broadly, inspire trust in meaning, confidence in the future, and compassionate care for others.
Developing these virtues within philosophical counseling supports authentic human development—a life that is not merely successful or pleasurable, but one that embodies integrity, purpose, and the full realization of human potential.
Conclusion
From Aristotle’s classical vision to the Christian tradition and modern philosophical practice, virtue remains the key to human flourishing. It is the art of becoming a person whose thoughts, desires, and actions are harmonized in the pursuit of the good. Philosophical counseling offers a practical context for cultivating these seven virtues, enabling individuals to grow in wisdom, moral strength, and love—hallmarks of authentic human development and of a life lived with depth, purpose, and enduring excellence.