In c.400 B.C.E., Socrates developed the “Four Cardinal Virtues.” The Cardinal Virtues were expressed through the writings of Socrates’ disciple, Plato, in the Socratic dialogues. Like Jesus of Nazareth who followed, Socrates did not write anything. Jesus had Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Socrates had Plato.
The English word “cardinal” comes from the Latin word cardo, which means “to hinge.” According to Socrates, all human virtues hinge on these four core virtues: Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance and Justice; very simply re-stated as Wisdom, Strength, Self-Restraint and Harmony (Balance). These Cardinal Virtues were first discussed in The Republic of Plato.
Like Jesus of Nazareth who followed, Socrates did not write anything. Jesus had Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Socrates had Plato.
Unlike the theological virtues (such as, Love and Hope), the Four Cardinal Virtues are the essential secular virtues for the “perfect” human being of Socrates. They necessarily imply a moral goodness, but they are not based upon faith or religion.
In the same manner as some Eastern philosophies, the Western Socratic Cardinal Virtues are not necessarily tied directly to belief in a deity, but were the foundation for finding harmony in self. Where religious harmony rests upon a belief system grounded with one or more deities, philosophical harmony rests upon a self-evidenced cerebral reconciliation.
Where religious harmony rests upon a belief system, philosophical harmony rests upon a self-evidenced cerebral reconciliation.
The Republic of Plato is a metaphor, in a manner, because the philosophical question posed to Socrates is to find justice “in man,” but Socrates analogizes to something bigger—and easier to see—by finding justice “in the state.” So, finding harmony within the state (the republic) is the analogy to the harmony within a human. Therefore, as the Republic of Plato traverses issues of political science, it is analogically traversing issues of humanity science.
As the Republic of Plato traverses issues of political science, it is analogically traversing issues of humanity science.
Similarly, there are certain essential virtues of every entrepreneur; that is, cardinal virtues of the entrepreneur. In my study of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship for more than 25 years as an attorney for entrepreneurs, I continue to find that the following four virtues are the cardinal virtues of entrepreneurs.
Vision.
Every entrepreneur must have vision. Vision is seeing where we want to go. Vision is usually the bigger picture, but it can be a goal at any incremental step. Vision creates the direction, and keeps people focused. Vision is keeping our eye on the ball.
Without Vision, we just go in circles. Vision sets the goal and the direction of our focus.
Knowledge.
Every entrepreneur must have the required body of knowledge regarding the commercial undertaking. This is similar to, yet different from, Socrates’ Prudence. The entrepreneur’s knowledge credentials must be possessed naturally, or the knowledge must be acquired by experience or education, in order to implement the strategy. The credentials underpin the entrepreneur’s knowledge-base. The knowledge-base can be held by the entrepreneur, but knowledge can also be purchased from others, such as the staff-team, advisers and consultants.
Without Knowledge, we cannot develop a game plan or implement the game strategy.
Courage.
Courage is moving forward amidst risk. Like the first ships sailing from England to America, almost by definition, the entrepreneurial venture implies a calculated risk. An act of some risk today for the calculated probability of a positive return.
Courage is bold, but, armed with Knowledge, remains prudent. Even the best captains, with the best maps, cannot control all the variables. There will be storms, and ships will sink, even with the best maps, even with the best captains. We know this, and we move forward anyway. There is no timid captain or entrepreneur, because the future is an unsure ocean.
Without Courage, we do not move forward.
Tenacity.
Like Socrates’ Fortitude, Tenacity is holding on, and not giving up. All of the Vision, Knowledge and Courage are of no use without Tenacity. To a captain, it is the determination to continue amidst a storm, and not to turn back. To hold, and not to give up.
Any adversity is too much for the weak.
Without Tenacity, we concede in failure for the long term. With Tenacity, we stay the course, damning the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Tenacity is shown more in the finish, while Courage is shown more in the start.
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As we navigate life, it is healthy to reflect upon Socrates’ Four Cardinal Virtues. And, as we navigate through entrepreneurial waters, it is similarly healthy to reflect upon The Four Entrepreneurial Cardinal Virtues.™
We often hear, “Do we have what it takes? in an abstract way. What is the “it”? “It” is The Four Entrepreneurial Cardinal Virtues.
And, if we do not naturally have what it takes, we can acquire and integrate the support talent to supply the necessary balance to reconcile the character traits. Since no one is perfect, the question is often how we develop a balanced partnership or team. (See related The Ben-Hur Principle.)
What makes these entrepreneurial virtues “cardinal” is that each of them necessarily “hinges” on the other, in a major/minor formative.
Each Entrepreneurial Cardinal Virtue “hinges” on the other.
Think about it. Vision without Knowledge is incapacitated. Knowledge without Vision wallows. Knowledge without Courage is impotent. Tenacity without Knowledge is stubborn. Courage without Tenacity concedes. And, of course, there must be balance and harmony between and among the virtues, without any virtue overpowering any other virtue (which is where Socrates finds “justice” in man).
The Champion Entrepreneur must know where he or she wants to go, must have the knowledge of how to get there, must move forward amidst unknowns and risk, and must hold on when confronted by the adversity that is almost assured to come. All in balance.
Understanding The Four Entrepreneurial Cardinal Virtues helps us to assess our condition to the achieve the success that we desire, and assists us in clarifying the attributes of the teams that we build.
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