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cdkey CSOctober 14, 2004
Human Prudence: The Useful Illusion
Toward the end of the book, Divine Providence, is a chapter (DP 191-213) with the following heading:
One’s own prudence is not real and only appears to be, and also ought to so appear; but Divine providence, owing to its presence in the least particulars, is universal. (DP 191)
In other words, our prudence—which is in effect the exercising of our own intelligence and wisdom—does not truly exist, while yet it is entirely necessary to our life and salvation that it seem to us that we really can act from our own intelligence and wisdom; in everything, from the big picture down to the last detail, it is the Lord’s providence that truly guides and leads us.
This is explained in several steps. First, it is noted that thoughts (which are the objects of our intelligence) are entirely rooted not in themselves but in affections. (DP 193-196) This is the logical consequence of the teachings that wisdom is the soul of the intellect, (DLW 394; DP 193) and that love is the life of man; (AC 6135, 10714; NJHD 54; LJ 21; DLW 1; DP 13, 108; AR 526, 634; TCR 380) thus our intellect is from our will as wisdom is the form of love.