Presented at the 2024 CiRCE National Conference: A Contemplation of Prudence.

Prudence is not simply a virtue of the mind and the will; it is a virtue of the heart. In this talk, Heidi White argues that the fundamental conflict of the human psyche is the division between duty and desire, or what we ought to do versus what we want to do. When duty and desire are united, we are at peace. When they are opposed, we are in turmoil. What role can prudence play in uniting duty and desire? Drawing from literature, psychology, and Christian tradition, Heidi offers a unifying vision of the soul in light of the ancient virtue of prudence.