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The Continence of Virtue
Author(s) -
Scarre Geoffrey
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
philosophical investigations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.172
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 1467-9205
pISSN - 0190-0536
DOI - 10.1111/phin.12003
Subject(s) - virtue , virtue ethics , philosophy , habit , epistemology , psychology , social psychology
Many recent writers in the virtue ethics tradition have followed A ristotle in arguing for a distinction between virtue and continence, where the latter is conceived as an inferior moral condition. In this paper I contend that rather than seeking to identify a sharp categorical difference between virtue and continence, we should see the contrast as rather one of degree, where virtue is a continence that has matured with practice and habit, becoming more stable, effective and self‐aware.