Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Prudence
(1,084 words)

1. Concept and problem

Prudence (Greek phrónesis, Latin prudentia, Italian prudenza, Spanish prudencia, French prudence, German Klugheit) appears in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics as the gift of correct practical action. It includes asking advice (eubulía), understanding (synesis), and judgment (gnṓme). Considered a cardinal virtue ever since the Latin church father Ambrose (4th century), by the time of Thomas Aquinas (13th century) at the lates…

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Walther, Gerrit, “Prudence”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 03 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_022347>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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