Ross G Caldwell
In my reading of medieval texts, I do sense that Prudence is distinguished from the other virtues. It is highest of the cardinal virtues.
One text close to the earliest trionfi cards illustrates this - the funeral eulogy for Gian Galeazzo Visconti, written by Petrus de Castelleto in 1402 (unpublished, Bibl. nat. ms. lat. 5888).
Petrus compares Gian Galeazzo to "Twelve Stars which are twelve
virtues". He then pronounces his sermon, which is structured on twelve virtues - he names a virtue, and describes how Gian Galeazzo exemplified it.
He divides them into four sets of three:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Charity
4. Justice
5. Fortitude
6. Temperance
7. Prudence
8. Piety
9. Mercy (Clementia)
10. Magnificence
11. Intelligence
12. Humility
Note that Prudence belongs to a different set of three.
Catholic theologians (can't avoid Catholic theology when talking about the cardinal virtues in medieval thought) call Prudence the "mother of virtues". Here is a good modern discussion which illustrates this thinking -
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/02ws/ws020228.htm
The other three follow -
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/02ws/ws020307.htm
I will have to read Aquinas again to see if he makes the same point.
One text close to the earliest trionfi cards illustrates this - the funeral eulogy for Gian Galeazzo Visconti, written by Petrus de Castelleto in 1402 (unpublished, Bibl. nat. ms. lat. 5888).
Petrus compares Gian Galeazzo to "Twelve Stars which are twelve
virtues". He then pronounces his sermon, which is structured on twelve virtues - he names a virtue, and describes how Gian Galeazzo exemplified it.
He divides them into four sets of three:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Charity
4. Justice
5. Fortitude
6. Temperance
7. Prudence
8. Piety
9. Mercy (Clementia)
10. Magnificence
11. Intelligence
12. Humility
Note that Prudence belongs to a different set of three.
Catholic theologians (can't avoid Catholic theology when talking about the cardinal virtues in medieval thought) call Prudence the "mother of virtues". Here is a good modern discussion which illustrates this thinking -
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/02ws/ws020228.htm
The other three follow -
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/02ws/ws020307.htm
I will have to read Aquinas again to see if he makes the same point.