Undeceptions with John Dickson

chevron_right

168. Virtue / Vice

whatshot 16 snips

Feb 22, 2026

Guest

Grace Harmon

Grace Harmon, medievalist who hosts Medievalish and writes on old books, explores medieval virtues and vices for modern life. She traces virtues from Aristotle through medieval thinkers. She explains pride, humility, the seven vices, and how habits shape character. She offers practical steps and argues medieval moral language still speaks to today.

01:11:59

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Monastic Lists Shaped The Seven Deadly Vices

Early Christian monastics like Evagrius and John Cassian transformed practical struggle into lists of vices to help monks resist spiritual derailment.
Grace Harmon traces these desert practices into Gregory the Great's seven capital vices that shaped Western pastoral care.

insights

INSIGHT

Pride Is The Root That Grows All Vices

Medieval thinkers placed pride at the root of all other vices because it rejects creatureliness and seeks control.
Grace Harmon notes manuscript images where a tree's roots are pride and all other vices grow from it, illustrating systemic self-centering.

insights

INSIGHT

Humility Is The Foundation For All Virtues

Humility functions as the foundational virtue because it clears obstacles to receiving grace and truthful self-knowledge.
Thomas Aquinas and Bernard are cited showing humility expels pride and readies the soul to receive divine influx.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

What Are Virtues and Vices?

05:59 • 1min

chevron_right

Hildegard and the Medieval Ordo Virtutum

07:06 • 3min

chevron_right

Virtue Ethics Versus Rule-Based Morality

09:44 • 3min

chevron_right

Why Medieval Thought Matters Today

12:20 • 48sec

chevron_right

Medieval Reputation and Protestant Historiography

13:08 • 3min

chevron_right

Ancient Roots: Aristotle to Christian Adoption

16:07 • 4min

chevron_right

Origins of the Seven Vices

19:44 • 2min

chevron_right

Cardinal Virtues and Their Role

21:55 • 2min

chevron_right

Virtues, Grace, and Aquinas' View

23:31 • 3min

chevron_right

Human Wholeness and Christian Twist

Humility as Foundational Virtue

32:56 • 3min

chevron_right

Humility, Charity, and Aquinas' Priority

35:54 • 3min

chevron_right

Pairs: Virtues Countering Vices

39:01 • 4min

chevron_right

Rapid-Fire Virtue-Vice Explanations

43:22 • 5min

chevron_right

Gluttony, Abstinence and Chastity Explained

Cultivating Virtue Practically

51:48 • 6min

chevron_right

Actions Shape Character (CBT Parallel)

57:32 • 3min

chevron_right

Appeal to Nonbelievers: Why Virtue Matters

01:00:41 • 2min

chevron_right

Two Medieval Strengths for Today

01:02:44 • 2min

chevron_right

Jesus, Virtue Ethics, and Grace

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

After Virtue

Alistair McIntyre

Alasdair MacIntyre's "After Virtue" is a highly influential work in moral philosophy that critiques modern ethical theories and proposes a return to virtue ethics. MacIntyre argues that modern moral philosophy has lost its way, leading to a fragmented and incoherent understanding of morality. He traces the historical development of ethical thought, identifying the decline of virtue ethics and the rise of emotivism and other relativistic approaches. MacIntyre proposes a revival of virtue ethics grounded in the Aristotelian tradition, emphasizing the importance of character development and the cultivation of virtuous dispositions. His work has had a profound impact on contemporary ethical debates, inspiring renewed interest in virtue ethics and its application to various social and political issues.

#20700

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Ordo Virtutum

S. Hildegar

#36

• Mentioned in 282 episodes

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.

#16976

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Moralia in Job

St. Gregory the Great

Ex Fontibus Company Staff

The 'Moralia in Job' is a major work by Gregory the Great, written between 578 and 595. It is a commentary on the Book of Job, using allegory to explore Christian doctrine from Creation to final Judgment. The work is divided into 35 books and has been influential in Western Christianity, shaping the thought of medieval theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas.

#85386

On the Eight Principal Vices

Evagrius Ponticus

Evagrius Ponticus's On the Eight Principal Vices outlines a taxonomy of thoughts (logismoi) and vices that hinder contemplative life, forming a basis for later lists of deadly sins. Written in the fourth century, it served as a practical manual for monks striving for purity of heart and persistent prayer. Evagrius details the origins and remedies for each vice, influencing John Cassian and later Christian thinkers. The treatise shaped ascetic practice and theological reflection on sin and virtue across Eastern and Western monasticism. Its psychological nuance and pastoral focus make it a key early text on spiritual formation.

#95848

The Steps of Pride and Humility

Bernard of Clairvaux

The Steps of Pride and Humility, attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, guides monks and readers through stages of spiritual growth, contrasting prideful tendencies with practices leading to humility. Bernard analyzes how pride manifests in various forms and prescribes humility as the corrective foundation for spiritual progress. The work influenced medieval monastic spirituality and pastoral care, stressing inward self-knowledge and reliance on God's grace. Its emphasis on humility as a prerequisite for receiving divine grace shaped later theological reflections. The text remains a significant resource for understanding medieval virtues and ascetic practice.

#700

• Mentioned in 48 episodes

Summa Theologiae

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a monumental work of systematic theology, aiming to present a comprehensive overview of Christian doctrine. It's structured around questions and articles, exploring various aspects of faith and reason. The Summa covers topics such as God, creation, the human person, salvation, and the sacraments. It's considered a cornerstone of Catholic theology and has profoundly influenced philosophical and theological discourse for centuries. Its enduring relevance lies in its systematic approach and integration of faith and reason.

#25066

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Everyman

Philip Roth

In pop culture, we often enjoy watching - or reading - vice and virtue play out, with the former often far more exciting than the latter.

But what about real life? Do we still find vice “sizzling” (as one writer described it), and virtue stale?

At the heart of this lies a much deeper question: What good is there in pursuing the good?

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES: https://undeceptions.com/podcast/virtue-vice/

(00:08) - - Is virtue boring?
(06:51) - - What is virtue?
(12:47) - - What's valuable about the Middle Ages?
(16:56) - - Aristotle and the virtues
(19:43) - - Vice vs. Virtue
(32:27) - - The root of all evil
(36:23) - - The root of all good
(43:41) - - Rapid Fire Round: Virtue/Vice pairs
(51:43) - - Cultivating virtue
(01:00:44) - - Why pursue Christian virtue?
(01:04:25) - - Five Minute Jesus

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative, a contact point for church pastors who are interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books