tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post2564397831956291914..comments2024-03-27T11:16:36.951-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Dear Prudence, Won't You Change Your Name?Gagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-47287991289599208482010-06-02T01:02:38.917-07:002010-06-02T01:02:38.917-07:00And what Van said. I never argue with Proverbs. :^...And what Van said. I never argue with Proverbs. :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72849966045709932822010-06-02T01:00:39.556-07:002010-06-02T01:00:39.556-07:00"BTW, do not follow this advice in combat...&..."BTW, do not follow this advice in combat..."<br /><br />Therein lies the answer. So you do concur that prudence should come first afterall. :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-70422015169319291322010-06-02T00:55:35.281-07:002010-06-02T00:55:35.281-07:00"Elsewhere he writes of cultivating "the..."Elsewhere he writes of cultivating "the attitude of 'silent' contemplation of reality: this is the key prerequisite for the perfection of prudence as cognition," since it is what makes (↓) possible, the "ingression of grace," or vertical reality.<br /><br />You know, Be still and know that I AM."<br /><br />Or, as Skully is fond of sayin' in his rather...unique interpretation:<br /><br />"Hold still...this'll really hurt like the beJesus but only for a minnit."USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-18753385285192348782010-06-01T19:09:06.197-07:002010-06-01T19:09:06.197-07:00Tigtog said "Not talking about being a bleedi...Tigtog said "Not talking about being a bleeding heart but merely the "tie goes to the runner" rule with regards to mercy. When in doubt be slow to judge. BTW, do not follow this advice in combat or the stock market."<br /><br />Without prudence, without wisdom, reflection and the habit of contemplation, the "tie goes to the runner" rule doesn't come up, the 'beat the crap out of the guy who's trying to take your prize' rule does. <br /><br />Which demonstrates why Prudence comes before Mercy, Mercy can only come as a result of it, and can only be properly given as a result of it... saying otherwise puts the Proverbial cart before the horse, as I think <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208&version=KJV" rel="nofollow">Proverbs 8</a>, picking up at line 17, makes clear,<br /><br /> <i>I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. <br /> Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. <br /> My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. <br /> I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: <br /> That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. <br /> The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. <br /> I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. <br /> When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. <br /> Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: <br /> While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. <br /> When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: <br /> When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: <br /> When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: <br /> Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; <br /> Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. <br /> Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. <br /> Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. <br /> Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. <br /> For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. <br /> But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.</i>Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-2772393382987783382010-06-01T19:07:23.889-07:002010-06-01T19:07:23.889-07:00"This, I think, is the key point: that we can..."This, I think, is the key point: that we can only make right decisions if we are 1) open to reality, 2) in conformity to reality, and 3) act in a manner consistent with that conformity. Thus, for St. Thomas, truth is "nothing other than the unveiling and revelation of reality, of both of natural [i.e., horizontal] and supernatural [vertical] reality." <br /><br />In short, "the pre-eminence of prudence means that realization of the good presupposes knowledge of reality" -- which explains why there is so little wisdom on the left, since they attack the very notion of objective truth, and substitute for it such retrograde idols as multiculturalism, "diversity," and moral relativism. "<br /><br />Wow.<br /><br />(Yeah... I'm on a roll)<br /><br />Short post today, but exceedingly distilled and potent.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-17613434135728647542010-06-01T18:50:31.245-07:002010-06-01T18:50:31.245-07:00"... we'll stick with prudence, which Pie..."... we'll stick with prudence, which Pieper calls "the mold and 'mother' of the other cardinal virtues, of justice, fortitude, and temperence. In other words, none but the prudent man can be just, brave, and temperate, and the good man is good insofar as he is prudent.... All virtue is necessarily prudent.""<br /><br />Bingo. <br /><br />(Never let it be said that we commentators don't you your money's worth in incisive commentary.)<br /><br />I don't have any statistics, but anyone care to bet how frequently (if at all (I'm leaning towards not at all)) the word Prudent is correctly used in any history or social studies textbook?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-53627048087838406402010-06-01T18:43:02.552-07:002010-06-01T18:43:02.552-07:00"Prudence is such a lousy name for the Virtue..."Prudence is such a lousy name for the Virtue of virtues... it's too close to "prudish." ... cautiousness, risk-averse, unadventurous, tentative, and possibly even "pragmatic" in ..."<br /><br />Not to mention being <i>way</i> too close to Dana Carvey's impression of Bush 41 "<i>woodunt be proodint</i>"Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-9156999507060503172010-06-01T17:47:33.591-07:002010-06-01T17:47:33.591-07:00To greyniffle re:
"When mercy degrades to m...To greyniffle re: <br /><br />"When mercy degrades to mere leniency, it ceases to be merciful and risks harm that the broken law was meant to prevent."<br /><br />Not talking about being a bleeding heart but merely the "tie goes to the runner" rule with regards to mercy. When in doubt be slow to judge. BTW, do not follow this advice in combat or the stock market.Tigtoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290914498892961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40369770255695515362010-06-01T14:59:12.020-07:002010-06-01T14:59:12.020-07:00When mercy degrades to mere leniency, it ceases to...When mercy degrades to mere leniency, it ceases to be merciful and risks harm that the broken law was meant to prevent.greynifflerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681797294152035949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75832089671810660972010-06-01T14:50:36.234-07:002010-06-01T14:50:36.234-07:00I don't know, even the Kabbalah balances divin...I don't know, even the Kabbalah balances divine mercy with severity, otherwise all hell would break loose worse than it already has.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-18509923828337446462010-06-01T14:39:50.318-07:002010-06-01T14:39:50.318-07:00To Gagdad re:
"Therefore, Pieper is absolute...To Gagdad re:<br /><br />"Therefore, Pieper is absolutely correct in saying that prudence "is the [vertical] cause of the other virtues' being virtues at all." <br /><br />Read yesterdays post concerning prudence being the first among the virtures and again today. My immediate thought was that mercy should be the first virture, simply because it is mercy that caused God to create the whole shebang. <br /><br />Agree that prudence has lost some of its appeal as word over the last two thousand years.<br /><br />Weird WV: fleasubTigtoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290914498892961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49855247387240289192010-06-01T12:53:30.469-07:002010-06-01T12:53:30.469-07:00If you believe in Satan (I do, but I am reluctant ...If you believe in Satan (I do, but I am reluctant to try to think too concretely about the Father of Lies) then you may believe that undermining the word Prudence is a great victory for the diabolical.<br /><br />And thanks to everyone who helped me in yesterday's discussion. I think the key point is the one that Aristotle made: that the central problem of Ethics is aligning the Good particular to the individual with the Good Universal. But I'm far too unschooled to press the point very hard.greynifflerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681797294152035949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-87048692071931794652010-06-01T11:48:57.956-07:002010-06-01T11:48:57.956-07:00That song is going to be in my head all day now.
...That song is going to be in my head all day now.<br /><br />Good post, though. I'll try to keep it in mind if/ when I'm tempted to verbally assault anyone in the next couple of days...juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.com