Aristotle's Doctrine Of The Mean
The Doctrine of the mean tries to find a balance in the various moral virtues (also known as the golden mean). Aristotle believed that virtue is linked to emotions and emotions have a cognitive part. Virtue is a choice, within a mean. To fully understand Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean, we need to understand what he thought about moral virtues. It is only then that we can fully grasp the concept of the Doctrine of the Mean and see if it can help guide us in morally relevant and difficult situations.
Aristotle believed that as humans, we are born without any character. Another way to look at this statement is that he thought we are born without any virtues or vices; we are born with a clean slate. The way we attain character is through our …show more content…
For one, desires as well as emotions can be unbalanced. However, Aristotle argued that we can shape our desires like we can our emotions to a more mature and reasoned set of responses. Since emotions are partially cognitive, they can be changed by changing your beliefs. But how can we do the same for desires? How can we feel the need for something in accordance with the right timing, person, place etc? How does one achieve such rational thinking?
Moreover, when emotions or desires play a part in moral virtues, it is no doubt that it will be less easy to fix what the appropriate response is; what the right mean is. Also, sometimes, some emotional responses such as spitefulness or envy do not have a mean. Some actions such as murder or adultery are always wrong. How can we use the Doctrine of the Mean for emotions that do not have a mean or actions that are always wrong? It would seem that difficult situations such as adultery cannot be guided by the …show more content…
What is a mean of virtue for one may not be for another. There are always going to be exceptions when it comes to situations and instabilities in a mean of a virtue. For all the reasons mentioned in this essay and the fact that virtue and vices are created on the basis of the emotions displayed and reasoning is something that is based on perception of the individual, I do not think the Doctrine can be used to guide us in tough situations that are morally
Aristotle believed that as humans, we are born without any character. Another way to look at this statement is that he thought we are born without any virtues or vices; we are born with a clean slate. The way we attain character is through our …show more content…
For one, desires as well as emotions can be unbalanced. However, Aristotle argued that we can shape our desires like we can our emotions to a more mature and reasoned set of responses. Since emotions are partially cognitive, they can be changed by changing your beliefs. But how can we do the same for desires? How can we feel the need for something in accordance with the right timing, person, place etc? How does one achieve such rational thinking?
Moreover, when emotions or desires play a part in moral virtues, it is no doubt that it will be less easy to fix what the appropriate response is; what the right mean is. Also, sometimes, some emotional responses such as spitefulness or envy do not have a mean. Some actions such as murder or adultery are always wrong. How can we use the Doctrine of the Mean for emotions that do not have a mean or actions that are always wrong? It would seem that difficult situations such as adultery cannot be guided by the …show more content…
What is a mean of virtue for one may not be for another. There are always going to be exceptions when it comes to situations and instabilities in a mean of a virtue. For all the reasons mentioned in this essay and the fact that virtue and vices are created on the basis of the emotions displayed and reasoning is something that is based on perception of the individual, I do not think the Doctrine can be used to guide us in tough situations that are morally