Four «basic» virtues

The Stoics sought to unite all virtues into one. Others, on the contrary, were concerned with this unified image they decomposed, described its parts, formed a system of virtues. That’s right it happened that some went into playful details. Others are they preferred to be satisfied only with the main features of the image.
The division into four basic virtues is old. It is based on the psychological structure of man. Plato developed this division in his State. He noticed that the mentality of different nations is different. The Greeks value knowledge wisdom, warrior Scythians or Thracians praise theirs Courage, Phoenician buyers are chasing money and light
life. This diversity of natures is possible because of the humanaccording to Plato, the soul has three abilities: 1. knowledge, 2. flammability, 3. capability, indulgence. Goodman uses these skills correctly. If used proper reason cultivates the virtue of wisdom. If he can do it the right place to apply your flammability, manifests courage. If he controls his enjoyment, he performs moderation. However, it is not easy to know when and how has which of these virtues come to the fore. That’s why the fourth fundamental virtue is necessary, justice. Her job is to balance all proceedings. Just as justice is the foundation of the state, so is the principle of harmony the foundation in the mental life of the individual.
The division into four basic virtues is generally adopted in the Christian literature of East and West. Some authors, e.g. st. Thomas Aquinas, built on this based on the whole developed system. The four basic virtues were assigned virtues similar, related, subordinate.
These systems can be different, so one writer is different from another.
A different division of virtues
Aristotle divided the virtues into intellectual and political. The Neoplatonists added a third group: «virtues clean ». They are based on the assumption that a person first does good on the outside, works honestly in society political). But then he will understand that true perfection lies in the purity of the heart. So he begins to purify his soul
(cleansing virtues). The peak of mental life then is in the knowledge of the real good (intellectual virtues). The division is too schematic, it did not happen. His response in Christianity is varied only in the fact that the spiritual life is divided into practice and contemplation. St. John of Damascus divides virtues into “mental” and «physical». The mental virtue is e.g. moderation. We have to fast to get to it. Fasting is a bodily virtue. Western authors have not adopted this division. They talk rather about the virtues themselves (eg moderation) and the means to achieve them (instrumental virtue, e.g. fasting). Origenes tried to interpret Christian virtues according to a schedule of eight beatitudes. It would certainly be nice but even this attempt becomes violent if we put too much theoretical knowledge into the simple speech of Jesus “on top” considerations.