• to consider the virtues in practice: the sala
dei Nove
Key words
Moral dilemma
Moral agent
Conflicting virtues
Key question
How would a
virtue theorist
deal with
abortion?
1. These images are a representation of
the virtues.
2. Look at the three images.
3. Can you identify any virtues?
4. Can you see any vices?
5. The scene is a depiction of good and
bad government and how they
operate on a city.
6. What do you think is the effect of the
vices which are represented in bad
government?
• A powerful example of the virtues in
operation can be seen from Ambrogio
Lorenzetti’s allegory of good and bad
government, in the Sala dei Nove in the
Palazzo Pubblico of Siena, painted
between 1337 and 1339.
• The fresco was painted across all four walls
of the hall of the Council of Nine, the city’s
administrators.
• The Nine were chosen every two months to
• The example is important as while it
draws on the Christian idea of virtue, it is
a secular expression of virtue.
• The city of Siena at this time was
governed by secular authorities distinct
from the Church, so it reflects an idea
which might be relevant to secular
ethical thinking in the modern world.
• The Palazzo Pubblico in Sienna is notable
for:
1. its great campo (square) and tower which
stands separate and equal to the dome
and tower of Sienna’s Cathedral,
2.an illustration of the separation of the
Church and Civic authority
3.and the location of the centre of the citystate.
• The fresco cycle covers three walls of
the council chamber.
• The fourth wall has a window which
lights the opposite wall on which is the
Allegory of good government.
• To one side of this are illustrates the
effects of good government in town and
countryside, and on the other is an
illustration of Bad Government and its
effects in the urban and rural contexts.
• The frescos are arranged to show the
contrast between the happiness, wellbeing
and order of life under good government and
the darkness, chaos and suffering brought
about by bad government.
• In the former, people are productive in
business, there is dancing in the streets and a
wedding.
• The different trades are able to go about their
activity including a shoemaker, a teacher, a
• in the country the fields are cultivated,
farmed and manicured with seeds being
sown, wines growing, and peasants and
travellers going about their business safely.
• The produce of the country is bought into
the city illustrating that rural and urban life
is in harmonious balance, and the figure of
security flies overhead.
• There is an openness about the city in
terms of the diversity within and the
• On the opposite wall the effect of bad
government are bleakly laid out.
• Discord and war are rife and there are
examples of violence, murder, robbery and
betrayal.
• The city has been heavily damaged, and
beyond, in the country, the land is
uncultivated, laid waste.
• Smoke rises from several places and the
city seems turned in upon itself, cut off
from the desolate countryside around it.
• Both scenes have a corresponding government
which is depicted through figures of the virtues
and vices and some scenes of governance.
• It the Bad Government, Tyranny presides.
• Above him fly Pride, Avarice and Vainglory; on
either side sit Cruelty, Treason, Fraud, Furor,
Division and War.
• Beneath, Justice is impotent, bound and
defeated.
• The cords of the scales of Justice are broken.
• Above the country, the harp of fear flies.
• Around the fresco are various texts with sign
Pride
This government will
have an overly high view
of its own importance
and conduct.
Cruelty
This government will
have cruel punishments
or torture.
Furore
This government will
be mad, manic and
crazed in its decision
making.
Avarice
Vainglory
This government will
have have an insatiable
greed for riches or the
desire to gain.
This government will
have excessive elation
or pride over one’s own
achievements, abilities,
boastful vanity.
Treason
Fraud
This government will
disrespect the
sovereignty of the
state. There may also
be coops
This type of
government will be
deceitful and breach
the confidence of its
people
Division
War
This type of
government will be
divided. There will be
no continuity between
departments or people
This type of
government will relish
war and actively seek
it.
• Because each seeks only his own good in
this city Justice is subjected to Tyranny’
• ‘where there is tyranny there is great fear’
and ‘where Justice is bound, no one is ever
in accord for the common Good, nor pulls
the cord (civic concord) , straight (with
force and full commitment).
• In this city – there is no expression of
virtue, only vice. This is negative for
society.
• It is the duty of the citizens to keep
citizens subject to Justice, to
banish those who threaten it and to
overthrow tyrants.
• Responsibility for the common
good lies with every citizen, not
Shows
the
importance
of
merely the ruling order or class.
democracy – government
for the people, by the
people
• the sunlit end of the hall offers a different
vision.
• The court of the Good Government has
two central figures.
• Highest seated to the right is the
Common Good, with Faith, Charity and
Hope flying above.
• Seated either side we see Peace,
Fortitude, Prudence, Magnanimity,
Faith
Charity
Hope
this is a Christian virtue
but can be taken in a
secular way as trust in
the people or the
government to be good
A government should be
generous and give to the
poor and people in need.
A government should
have a positive attitude
towards the future for its
people.
Peace
Fortitude
Prudence
A government should be
peaceful with other
nations and not seeking
war unnecessarily
A government must have
strength in adversity and
be able to deal with
struggle well.
A government must have
common sense. it must
take care for the future
and safeguard its people
Magnanimity
A government must be
generous in forgiving an
insult or injury, free from
resentment or
vindictiveness
Temperance
A government must have
moderation or selfrestraint in action.
Justice
A government must treat
its people fairly, with
righteousness and must
be centred on lawfulness
• To the left Justice is depicted again with
Wisdom flying above.
• The virtues metes out Commutative and
Distributive justice.
• Beneath sits Concord and to the right
stand 24 Councillors holding the rope of
concord. Texts beneath read,
• ‘This holy Virtue (Justice), where she
rules, induces unity to the many souls
(of citizens), and they, gathered together
for such a purpose, make the Common
Good their Lord.
• The virtues are virtues not just for those
in government, but every citizen. Dire
consequences follow if people’s hearts
are governed by vices rather than
virtues.
• The rule of Justice and the priority of the
common good and the other virtues
allow people of all trades and business
to go about pursuing their separate
interests.
• Whether we are well or badly governed
makes a difference to our lives.
• We can choose whether our hearts and
cities are governed by virtues or vices.
• The virtues and vices can been seen
clearly from the effects and from the
principles underpinning those effects.
• The fresco cycle is instructive for
citizens and rulers to achieve well-being