Preview

Is Aristotle Right to Say That Virtues of Character Lie Between an Excess and Deficiency?

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1278 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Is Aristotle Right to Say That Virtues of Character Lie Between an Excess and Deficiency?
Is Aristotle right to say that virtues of character lie between an excess and deficiency?

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato. Aristotle had two major works about the Ethics, they are Nichomachean Ethics and Eudemian Ethics. Aristotle claims that all the action of a human must aim to something, but if you are day-dreaming, it won’t be counted as an action. Aristotle also talks about the golden mean. The golden mean can help to support why Aristotle is right to say that virtues of character lie between an excess and deficiency. The golden mean represents about the median between the two extremes of deficiency and excess. It cannot be using calculation to calculate out what is the mean, to be able to find out the golden mean, the golden mean is dependent upon feeling or acting “at the right times, for the right objects, towards the right persons, for the right motives, and in the right manner” (Aristotle, 1943, p.107), or it also can say that “at the right time, about the right things, towards the right people, for the right end, and in the right way, is the mean and the best; and this is the business of virtue” (Ethics 1106b). In these two statements, it can represent that how can we support for how golden mean works.
It is right to say that Aristotle can claim virtues of character lie between an excess and deficiency. To prove that Aristotle is right, there are number of points, they are the meaning of virtue of character, including courage, temperance, generosity, even-temperedness, and magnanimity. Talking about how the golden mean can help to distinguish people, talking about people cannot be excess and deficiency, it must have a middle point between the excess and deficiency. It also will give out some of the example to talk about the real case in our life, to explain why Aristotle is right to say that virtue of character is lie between excess and deficiency.
According to Aristotle believe that virtue comes

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Hale Tragic Hero Essay

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Aristotle’s first two points in recognizing a tragic hero say the character must be of noble…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Virtue is finding that middle ground between two extremes. Each virtue has two opposites, for example: modesty is the mean between shyness and shamelessness, shyness being the excess and shamelessness being the deficiency. To me this sounds like Aristotle is mainly concerned with the mean as its aim. However, the mean of one person may be a different mean for another since every individual is different. He gives a good example of this in (1106b) where he speaks about deciding on portions of food, the specific needs of each person needs to be taken into account. An athlete would need to eat more food than your everyday man. When it comes to deciding what is virtuous one needs to find a mean that is specific to one self. The mean should lie between the two extremes of vice: excess and deficiency. What Aristotle means by excess is going beyond what is appropriate in terms of feelings and in actions. On the other hand deficiency falls short of what is appropriate. The mean that we search for is a cross between the two vices and is found in a trial and error like process through the experiences of one’s own life. Aristotle also refers to virtue as an active condition. What I believe…

    • 657 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    It is true that each author speaks virtues that are common to both the medieval and ancient times. Aristotle being so cunning during his era introduces virtue or excellence consisting of two parts moral and intellectual which can be taught, it is not possible to change what is naturally imprinted. Moral education is tangible through habits and experiences. Virtue can be achieved, not easily; it takes more than one characteristic to meet it.…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    C. in Athens, Greece, it focuses primarily on personal character and the development of certain virtuous character traits. To act well in various circumstances by doing the right thing is the center focus of a person’s character traits as in their self-control, courage, wisdom, honesty and respect that makes the person what they are over time. This life of a virtuously ethical person emphasizes achieving human excellence by always doing the right thing, the mere meaning of virtue from both the Latin and Greek culture means “excellence”, to be a model citizen and is founded on the assumption that the purpose of life was to achieve happiness and fulfillment. Aristotle though, has the most prolific virtue ethics theory, he held that understanding the meaning of a virtue was necessary but not sufficient to make one virtuous and that there are many specific virtues: intellectual, and moral, whereas moral virtues are those we would need in order to conduct affairs in daily life such as self-control, courage, gentleness and wittiness. Intellectual virtue reflects what is unique and important about human nature, human reasoning and rationality, calmness, wisdom and knowledge to name a few. Virtue ethics is the embodiment of being all you can be by making the most of our talents and…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aristotle’s ethics focuses on virtues of character and good habits. His big term he uses is eudemonia, which means happiness.…

    • 514 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Contrary to Jesus, action according to Aristotle must be done not with the goal of personal gain—rather it must be done to the median and done repeatedly well, as shown here; “For the things we have to learn before we can do them we learn by doing: men become builders by building houses, and harpist by playing the harp. Similarly, we become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage” (Ethics 1103b). Coupled with this idea of performing action well, Aristotle also promotes the highest virtue a human can posses as the ability of contemplation. In Books VI and X, Aristotle suggests that the intellectual virtue of wisdom is the “best and most perfect kind” of virtue, and he ultimately concludes that the good for man is rational contemplation in accordance with the intellectual virtue of wisdom as shown in this passage, “For this activity is not only the highest—for intelligence is the highest possession we have in us, and the objects which are the concern of intelligence are the highest objects of knowledge—but also the most contentious: we are able to study continuously more easily than to perform any kind of action” (Ethics 1177a.19). Throughout his text, the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle rarely mentions the divine—and when he does the…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon Tragic Hero Essay

    • 1460 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The last two expectations of a tragic hero are intertwined. According to Aristotle, the character must be true to life and be consistent in behavior and…

    • 1460 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

    • 1389 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In this essay, with all the information I have gathered from the readings and lectures, I will be discussing an essential concept of Aristotle’s virtue ethics; his “doctrine of the mean”. I will provide a detailed explanation of Aristotle’s mean, how it is meant to be applied when making decisions, provide arguments from various sources that agree with the main concept of the “doctrine of the mean” and with all of the information gathered, I will prove that this doctrine is extremely useful to people when it comes to making moral decisions in life.…

    • 1389 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are various theories of ethics, like deontology, utilitarianism, casuist and virtue just to name a few. The theory of virtue is quite interesting; it is a theory that according to Principles and Theories (2002, February 17) Retrieved September 29, 2015, is based on judging a person’s character rather than their actions. The theory of virtue is different from other theories in the sense that it is the only one that judges upon character so traits such as integrity, kindness, honesty, morality, and dignity are deemed right and just. These traits also so happen to be some that I find very important to have in my personal relationships. In time there have been philosophers that also stated differences between theories. Aristotle for example, according to Aristotle's Ethics (2001, April 16) Retrieved September 29, 2015, is known for discovering the difference between intellectual and moral values by stating that one is learned and another is acted out naturally as what feels right.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must have four specific characteristics: goodness, superiority, a tragic flaw, and the eventual realization that…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Groundhog Day

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages

    1. There are many virtues in life that one may have. Virtues are characteristics we have that according to Aristotle help us lead the good life. Among these many virtues is generosity. Being generous can help us lead a virtuous life, thus a good one. However what is generosity? Generosity is a virtue but what makes somebody generous? First, we need to understand the most basic part of being generous, and that is the act of giving. In order to be virtuous, one must act, and in this case by giving. Giving to those in need may be seen as virtuous. By helping those in need and giving to them we may accomplish a better life. However, further thinking leads us to understand that giving in itself is not enough. We need to be able to know how to give just the right amount. By giving either too much or not enough we cannot be virtuous. When a person gives too much, one cannot help the other person. The person in need may become dependent on the person who is giving and receiver will not learn to benefit from the generosity. On the other hand, not giving enough is stinginess. It shows the lack of character and can be seen as selfish. Obviously by not giving enough or giving too much, one cannot accomplish the true goal of giving, which is to help others. In conclusion, generosity is one of life’s many virtues and it is seen as the act of giving. We know that the act of giving has to be done in just the right amount in order to be virtuous and have a fulfilling life.…

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His rationale stated that a decision is the singularity that encompass morality as a whole. Aristotle's thinking contends that this is accomplished through the practice and habit of moral thinking. Aristotle believed that moral virtue is a mean of the two extremes which dictate what is goodness, and as as stated by Aristotle “wherefore goodness is both rare and laudable and noble”. In respect to Mill and Kant, Aristotle is fundamentally different because of his theory on happiness which is that happiness may not be achievable in retrospect by everyone in the equation, and to some end might bring pain to one or more parties depending on the consequences of that virtuous…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chapter 17 Virtue Ethics

    • 621 Words
    • 2 Pages

    17.3 I agree with Aristotle’s argument and conclusion that being virtuous person contributes so much to someone’s life with regards to going well. The reason for this is that our ultimate goal ought to be self-sufficient. That is; Aristotle believed that the good of something should not be limited to instrumental values e.g. money and fame. The goal of life, according to Aristotle, should be about self-sufficiency, which means that a person needs to possess it all and make it worth for our lives. The other explanation is the rationality of doing something, which is something that sets human being apart from all the other living and non-living things. The ultimate rationality tends to consist of our daily reasoning power.…

    • 621 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Epictetus Imperfection

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Aristotle’s Book 2 of Nicomachean Ethics, he deals with virtue, but more importantly, its golden mean "the measurement that which the virtue is secreted neither in excess nor in deficiency. For example, endurance is a mean between its deficiency of rashness and the excess of cowardice. This argument seems to be certain, as it seems that moderation to everything is a necessity.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Aristotle’s Book II of Nicomachean Ethics, he explains that virtue of character is the mean to the ultimate end, which is happiness. Aristotle states that, without a goal or ultimate end (happiness), life does not have a purpose. Therefore every action in a person’s life has to be made with true virtue of character in mind in order to achieve…

    • 1386 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays