Comparing the Schemes

The Western scheme groups the virtues in three ways at once: the four cardinal virtues of classical philosophy, the three theological virtues of Christian teaching, and the seven heavenly virtues set against the deadly sins. Some virtues belong to more than one grouping, temperance is both cardinal and a counter to gluttony, charity both theological and a counter to greed, and the entries note where a virtue sits in each.

Each virtue is given with the vice it is set against, where the tradition draws that pairing. The vices themselves are treated in their own category.