The document explores the concepts of values and virtues as rooted in the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, emphasizing the distinction between simple acts of goodness and true virtues, which require habitual practice. It highlights prudence as a guiding virtue essential for informed decision-making in everyday situations, encouraging reflection on one’s goals and the implications of their actions. Practical decision-making is framed not only in significant choices but also in daily routine decisions, stressing the importance of thinking critically about one's actions.

1. VALUES EDUCATION

2. What is a Value?
Thomas Aquinas wrote “ Every being, as being, is good. For all
being, as being, has actuality and is in some way perfect;
since every act implies some sort of perfection; and
perfection implies desirability and goodness." Humans can
recognize goodness and choose to achieve that goodness.
Humans can recognize goodness and choose to achieve that
goodness.

3. VALUES AND VIRTUES
According to John Hardon, SJ, Thomas Aquinas
tried to link the term "virtue" with the Latin
terms vir, which means "man" and vis, which
Virtues means "power." Aquinas seemed to
suggest that having virtues mean practicing
courage and strength.

4. VIRTUE
Virtue is an act that does good to achieve
what is good. However, a single act of
goodness is not automatically a virtue. An
act must become habitual to become a
virtue.

5. PRUDENCE: THE GUIDING VIRTUE
Prudence is the virtue called the auriga
virtutum or the "charioteer of the virtue."
It is called such because "it guides the
other virtues by setting rules and
measures."

6. PRUDENCE: THE GUIDING VIRTUE
Prudence is also defined as the "virtue
that disposes practical reason to discern
our true good in every circumstance and to
choose the right means of achieving it."

7. PRUDENCE: THE GUIDING VIRTUE
Prudence is also defined as the "virtue
that disposes practical reason to discern
our true good in every circumstance and to
choose the right means of achieving it."

8. PRUDENCE AND DECISION-MAKING
We must understand that decision-making
does not always necessarily involve "life-
changing" things. Making decisions involve
simple and mundane things like the
following:

9. PRUDENCE AND DECISION-MAKING
1. What time should I wake up?
2. How will I fix my hair?
3. What things should I bring to school?
4. What do I eat during recess?
5. Where do I throw my trash?

10. PRUDENCE AND DECISION-MAKING
6. Who will I consult regarding my
homework?
7. What app should I download?
8. What time will I go home?

11. To arrive at a good decision, we must think
first. Answering the following questions
will help you:
1. Why am I doing the act? What is my
goal? Am I aiming to achieve something
good?

12. 2. How will I achieve that goal? Will I do
something good, or will I do something
bad?
3. Who and what will be affected by what I
will do? Is it the right time to do it?

13. Good decision-making also involves
reflection. Reflecting means
(1) trying to assess your feelings regarding
the act and
(2) trying to imagine what would happen if
you do it.