Aristotle defines self-control and temperance to give us words for our pursuit of self-control. We need to know these words to understand what we are aiming at.
Very well said. In my own battles this clarity of terms helps me orient. Passion often disorients. I would be interested in your wisdom of developing self control and ultimately temperance.
With all due respect, why are we using the pagan philosopher Aristotle as a starting point for virtue discussions? The Roman Catholics have done so for centuries, largely under the tutelage of Thomas Aquinas. Their "faith" is now a shipwreck of platitudes and virtue seeking. You won't find them speaking about saving faith. Virtuous behavior follows necessarily as part of the good works (Ephesians 2:10) prepared ahead of time by the Lord for those who are justified.
Very well said. In my own battles this clarity of terms helps me orient. Passion often disorients. I would be interested in your wisdom of developing self control and ultimately temperance.
Thanks, David. I plan to write on this soon!
With all due respect, why are we using the pagan philosopher Aristotle as a starting point for virtue discussions? The Roman Catholics have done so for centuries, largely under the tutelage of Thomas Aquinas. Their "faith" is now a shipwreck of platitudes and virtue seeking. You won't find them speaking about saving faith. Virtuous behavior follows necessarily as part of the good works (Ephesians 2:10) prepared ahead of time by the Lord for those who are justified.
Great article. The virtues should be normative discussions for spiritual formation/catechism in churches.