PHI370 first exegesis book two
Melissa Greenberg
Prof Burke
PHI 370
2-24-15
First Exegesis- Book Two, the definition of virtue
Aristotle’s definition of virtue has been modified multiple times throughout book two; however, by (1107a) he comes to a true definition of virtue. Aristotle refers to virtue as what enables a person to live a truly happy life. Virtues work in accordance with the soul to enable people to make the right decisions about how to act in the given circumstances. According to Aristotle’s definition of virtue in (1107a-1107a30) “Virtue is an active condition that makes one apt at choosing, consisting in a mean condition in relation to us, which is determined by a proportion and by the means by which a person with practical judgment would determine it. It is a mean condition between two vices.”
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
Prof Burke
PHI 370
2-24-15
First Exegesis- Book Two, the definition of virtue
Aristotle’s definition of virtue has been modified multiple times throughout book two; however, by (1107a) he comes to a true definition of virtue. Aristotle refers to virtue as what enables a person to live a truly happy life. Virtues work in accordance with the soul to enable people to make the right decisions about how to act in the given circumstances. According to Aristotle’s definition of virtue in (1107a-1107a30) “Virtue is an active condition that makes one apt at choosing, consisting in a mean condition in relation to us, which is determined by a proportion and by the means by which a person with practical judgment would determine it. It is a mean condition between two vices.”
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