The key difference between justice and prudence lies in their focus: prudence is about judging the right action, while justice is about doing what is right and desiring to do so.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Justice:
- A cardinal virtue focused on fairness and rightness in relationships with others.
- It disposes one to do what is right, giving each person what is due to them.
- Justice also involves a desire to act rightly, not just an obligation.
- Examples: Paying debts, treating employees fairly, upholding the law.
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Prudence:
- A cardinal virtue focused on wisdom and practical judgment.
- It enables one to judge correctly about what the right action is in a specific situation.
- Prudence guides one to choose the best means to achieve a morally good end.
- It involves careful consideration, foresight, and avoidance of rash decisions.
- Examples: Weighing the potential consequences of a decision before acting, seeking advice from trusted sources, choosing the most effective way to help someone in need.
In essence, prudence helps you figure out what is just, and justice compels you to do it and want to do it. Prudence is about judgment, while justice is about action and desire.
Think of it this way:
- Prudence identifies the just action: Prudence might tell you that lying is generally wrong, and in a specific situation, telling a lie would cause harm to someone.
- Justice motivates the right action: Justice then compels you to tell the truth, even if it's difficult, because truthfulness is what is owed to others and to the situation, and you desire to be a truthful person.
While distinct, justice and prudence work together. Justice without prudence can lead to rigid and potentially harmful application of rules, while prudence without justice can lead to clever but morally wrong actions. Both virtues are necessary for ethical living.
