The Nature of True Virtue

Jonathan Edwards's work, "The Nature of True Virtue," defines virtue as disinterested love toward God and other beings, proportionate to their degree of existence. This love is not rooted in self-interest, family, or even humanity, but in a recognition of God's supreme worthiness. Edwards, a prominent Puritan theologian and philosopher, explored virtue within the broader context of virtue ethics, which focuses on character traits essential for human flourishing rather than strict duties. His work emphasizes that true virtue stems from an intuitive apprehension of God's glory, a concept central to his theological framework.12