Sophrosyne

If one prizes moderation and self-control, and seeks to manifest these traits, then one is honoring Sophrosyne (sophrosune), the Greek goddess exemplifying these qualities. She is the daimona, or personified spirit, who is best represented as temperance, that is, the sort of self-restraint and self-control that derive from self-knowledge. If one follows the Delphic Oracle's command to "know thyself," and therefore one is aware of one's limitations, and most importantly one is aware of what one does not know, then the spirit of Sophrosyne is evoked. Sophrosyne is the subject matter of Plato's dialogue Charmides, wherein is discussed self-knowledge, and the wisdom and moral health that are attainable through rational understanding of oneself, and particularly of understanding oneself as a being with limitations. The dialogue does not achieve any strong resolution on the question of sophrosyne. What the dialogue does reveal is that sophrosyne is a virtue, and as such represents a state that people of excellence recognize and honor, for it is an aristocratic virtue, one that represents self-command through self-knowledge, and through sophrosyne we achieve the a level of dignity appropriate for a human being of excellent character. An inseparable part of this self-knowledge is knowledge of what we owe to others, according to the nature of our relations to particular others. If we possess the requisite self-knowledge, then we are able to 'mind our own business' in relation to others, for self-knowledge informs us of the worth and the significance of our experiences, of our social standing, and of what and what are not appropriate ambitions for ourselves, as established by our abilities and our limitations.  

The concept of sophrosyne was central to the thinking of Aesara of Lucania, a woman philosopher of ancient times who, similar to Socrates, saw the soul as tripartite, consisting of mind (intellect: nous), spirit, and desire. One who pursues sophrosyne seeks to understand the nature of, and cultivate a balance amongst, these three (often) competing aspects of the human condition. If one is capable of grasping sufficiently these constituents of human nature, and one works to bring them into balance, that is, one endeavors to not allow one aspect to exceed its just proportion and thus dominate the others, thereby disordering the self, then one is able to realize the harmony of soul all reasonable persons seek to establish and to enjoy.