sagereasoning

The Four Cardinal Virtues

Every evaluation considers the unified expression of these four pillars of Stoic philosophy. They are inseparable aspects of a single good character — not scored independently, but assessed as one whole.

Practical Wisdom

phronesis

What is genuinely good, bad, and indifferent

Unified Assessment

Justice

dikaiosyne

What is owed to others — distributing to each their due

Unified Assessment

Courage

andreia

What is genuinely fearful and what is not

Unified Assessment

Temperance / Self-Mastery

sophrosyne

What to choose and what to avoid — ordering impulse and desire

Unified Assessment

Katorthoma Proximity Levels

Your reasoning is assessed for how closely it approaches the ideal of the perfect Stoic Sage.

The katorthoma proximity scale and the Five Stages of Practice are the project’s constructs on the Stoic distinction between the appropriate act and the perfectly virtuous act. The ancient texts give two categories — sage and non-sage — and three grades of progress toward wisdom (Seneca, Epistulae 75). The scale and the stages are the project’s realisation of those categories as a practical instrument.

The Perfect Sage

Sage-like(sage_like)The Inner Fire

Extraordinary philosophical depth — identifies all relevant passions, false judgements, and virtue domains with precision

Principled(principled)The Clear Summit

Strong philosophical reasoning — correctly identifies most passions and applies the 4-stage evaluation with only minor gaps

Deliberate(deliberate)The Crossroads

Adequate self-awareness — recognises some passions and applies basic Stoic framework, but misses subtleties

Habitual(habitual)The Worn Path

Minimal philosophical engagement — relies on surface-level reflection without genuine passion diagnosis

Reflexive(reflexive)The Storm

No meaningful self-examination — no awareness of passions, false judgements, or prohairesis