We’ve established that according to Aristotle, the ultimate end of humans, happiness, is
achievable through virtue. And that we are capable of achieving virtue through habituation which
we can develop for we are responsible for our actions. Firstly, let us fully comprehend Aristotle’s
concept of happiness. His concept of happiness differs from what one might typically associate
with happiness i.e. wealth or pleasure. Happiness is derived from both moral and intellectual
virtue. In Book 6, Aristotle presents intellectual virtues. Up until Book 3, Aristotle’s argument
centered on moral virtue’s importance in regard to one’s character but intellectual virtue is
essential in moral decision-making. Wisdom is introduced as the highest intellectual virtue
alongside understanding. He also introduces and primarily focuses on practical wisdom which is
the intellectual virtue that enables practical, morally sound, decision-making. Aristotle’s
discussion of intellectual virtues fits in neatly with the overall view he presents in Books 1-3. We
are able to achieve virtue through the development of our character. Possessing intellectual virtue
aids in this for we are better informed about the decisions we make. These decisions are what
allow us to develop our character or moral virtue, and subsequently achieve happiness.
Happiness is something that is achieved by means of acting in accordance with reason and ethics,
to develop virtue.
Virtue cannot simply be achieved in the short term but is rather the outcome of repeated
actions and choices. Consistently making virtuous choices leads to the development of virtuous
habits. Virtue is not developed overnight but is the result of habit forming which then leads to
changes in one’s character and subsequently a happy life. If my loving mother asks me to do the
dishes and I say “no” for no good reason, that clearly is not a virtuous decision. Now suppose I
say “yes” once but never again, though the initial decision to say yes may have been the right
choice, doing the dishes for my mother has not become a habit nor an aspect of my character.
Now suppose I say yes every time she asks, within good reason, without any hesitation because I
love her and I want to change. In this microcosm, I’ve achieved virtue because it’s simply a habit
to help my mother and a lasting virtuous change in the character that I have developed. Baked
into this example is the notion of responsibility. I love my mother and so I want to act in a way
that may benefit her. To do this I first recognize that a change must occur in my character and
more importantly that I am capable of making this change in my action. Aristotle majorly
emphasizes the importance of moral agency and responsibility for their actions. Without moral
agency, there is no room for me to develop virtue because my actions and morality are simply not
in my control. By recognizing the responsibility I have over my own actions, I can develop my
character according to virtue and achieve happiness. So I choose to help my mother with the
dishes because I recognize that I’m responsible for my actions, and thus my happiness too. I
benefit not only my mom but myself as well.
Aristotle’s concept of happiness persists in the pursuit of moral and intellectual virtue.
But what exactly does Aristotle even mean when he mentions virtue? What exactly is virtue?
Well, Aristotle says, “Virtue is the mean between two vices: the vice of excess and the vice of
deficiency” So virtue is founded in the middle ground between two extremes. It is not an extreme
form of behavior nor is behavior that is lacking. He provides a great example of courage. On one
end of the extreme, the excess of courage is recklessness. The other end of the extreme, the
deficiency of courage would be cowardice. So the virtuous person in this case would be the
courageous one, landing in between the extremes of this particular example. A Goldilocks
principle, if you will, not too hot, not too cold, but just right. To summarize. Virtue is defined as
the mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency. Virtue can be both moral and
intellectual, intellectual virtues such as practical wisdom aid in informing virtuous choices and
actions contributing to the development of one’s character. Virtue can be developed through
habituation or the repetition of virtuous choices and actions until it is simply a part of one’s
character. In order to make these changes in character and ultimately achieve virtue one needs to
recognize the responsibility they have over their actions and act upon this responsibility. Virtue is
concluded as the means to achieving the ultimate human end, happiness. Happiness is defined
neither by pleasure, wealth, honor, or any other external stimuli but constituted entirely by a
person’s character in accordance with virtue.