The proverb says: “If it’s windy on St Prudence Day, the silly sheep will dance away.” Or so it is in France at least. The feast of St Prudence is May 6, which Gordon Brown might not have known when he called the election.
Prudence is not a virtue Mr Brown speaks of much these days. He never did exemplify its classical meaning, for prudence, one of the four cardinal virtues (with fortitude, temperence and justice), is not about caution. In its true sense it might lead you to action which risks your own life.
So degraded has it become, that it might be better to call it by a different name. Ancient Greeks called it phronesis. Herbert McCabe, a 20th-century philosopher skilled in using the scalpel of intellect, preferred prudentia, the Latin term, in English “good sense”. Prudentia personified held a mirror for self-awareness (which we call “conscience”) and a serpent for wisdom, as in the painting (below) in the Uffizi, Florence.
OK. I’ll bite. A nice piece that captures the absolute presupposition of any conversation about natural law — that we have a share in the divine providence by being provident both for ourselves and others. As a standard of moral objectivity and human dignity, that one is hard to beat. Prudence follows directly from that standard, and from the little I know, it is a strong word — prudence involves courage. “Here I stand” is famous (even Spong knows it). For Luther it was a mater of prudence, so:
[blockquote]”Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor [b]prudent[/b] to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”[/blockquote]
Oops. I think it’s: “neither prudent nor wise”; but the point remains.