- Discerning the good and the evil: This involves studying moral principles and understanding how to apply them to different situations.
- Analyzing the consequences of actions: This involves thinking through the potential consequences of our actions before we act, so that we can make choices that are consistent with our values.
- Evaluating different perspectives: This involves considering different viewpoints and understanding how they affect our decisions.
- Seeking the truth: This involves being open to new information and challenging our existing beliefs.
Training of the will:
- Habituation to the good: This involves repeating good actions until they become habits, so that we don't have to rely on willpower every time we make a decision.
- Fighting against temptation: This involves resisting the temptation to do things that we know are wrong.
- Persevering in the face of difficulty: This involves continuing to work towards our goals even when things get tough.
- Cultivating virtue: This involves developing the qualities that make us good people, such as honesty, kindness, and courage.