Aristotle on virtue
Michael Lacewing
enquiries@alevelphilosophy.co.uk
Virtue
• A virtue (arête) is a trait of mind or
character that helps us achieve a good
life (eudaimonia)
– Intellectual virtues
– Moral virtues (traits of character)
What is a moral virtue?
• Aristotle: a moral virtue is a state of
character by which you ‘stand well’ in
relation to your desires, emotions and
choices:
– A character trait is a disposition relating to how
one feels, thinks, reacts etc. in different
situations, e.g. short-tempered, generous
– A virtue is a disposition to feel, desire and
choose ‘well’
The doctrine of the mean
• Virtues and virtuous actions lie between
‘intermediate’ between two vices of ‘too much’ and
‘too little’
– Compare eating too much/little
• Not arithmetical
– ‘to feel [desires and emotions] at the right times, with
reference to the right objects, towards the right people,
with the right motive, and in the right way’
• This is Aristotle’s ‘doctrine of the mean’
• But this is not the same as ‘moderation’ on all
occasions
Practical wisdom
• Practical wisdom – an intellectual virtue –
helps us know what the right time, object,
person, motive and way is
– To feel ‘wrongly’ is to feel ‘irrationally’
• A virtue, then, ‘a state of character
concerned with choice, lying in the mean,
i.e. the mean relative to us, this being
determined by a rational principle, and by
that principle by which the person of
practical wisdom would determine it’
Virtues and vices
Passion/concern Vice of
deficiency
Fear
Cowardly
Virtue
Vice of excess
Courageous
Rash
Pleasure/pain
‘Insensible’
Temperate
Self-indulgent
Money
Mean
Liberal (‘free’)
Prodigal
Important honour Unduly humble
Properly proud
Vain
Small honours
‘Unambitious’
‘Overambitious’
Anger
‘Unirascible’
‘Properly
ambitious’
Good-tempered
Pleasant to
others
Shame
Quarrelsome
Friendly
Obsequious
Shy
Modest
Shameless
Attitude to
other’s fortune
Spiteful
Righteously
indignant
Envious
Short-tempered
Acquiring virtues
• We acquire virtues of character
through the habits we form during our
upbringing.
– Virtues can’t simply be ‘taught’ – there
are no moral child prodigies
• We are not virtuous ‘by nature’, but
become virtuous by practising
– Like learning to play a musical instrument
– So we become just by doing just acts
Virtuous action
• How can we do just acts unless we are
already just?
– ‘in accordance with’ justice vs. fully just acts
• A fully virtuous action
– know what you are doing
– choose the act for its own sake
– choose from a firm and unchangeable character
• As we become just, we understand what
justice is and choose it because it is just
Two contrasts
• Is strength of will virtuous?
– Aristotle: No. A virtuous person doesn’t
have to overcome temptation.
• Is eudaimonia the moral life?
– Aristotle’s idea is wider, e.g. we should
have ‘proper pride’ and seek honour (vs.
Christian humility and self-sacrifice)