Aristotle's Concept of Moral Virtue in Book Two
Introduction
- Book Two focuses on moral virtue, diverging from the broader notion of virtue that includes wisdom, justice, truth, honor, and goodness.
- Aristotle discusses the nature versus nurture debate, suggesting that nature provides capacities which are realized through habits.
Nature vs. Nurture
- Moral virtue is not innate; it is actualized through habitual actions.
- Individuals become virtuous by consistently performing virtuous actions.
- Virtue is acquired during the action, not before or after.
- Habits critically influence character, highlighting the importance of cultivating good habits.
Building Good Habits and Character
- Answers about building habits and character are general, based on agreed principles that virtues are inherently good.
- Aristotle emphasizes that observing actions alone is insufficient to determine character; emotions associated with actions (pleasure and pain) are crucial indicators.
Virtue and Emotional Response
- Virtues are linked to emotions and are evaluated based on responses to pleasure and pain.
- Virtue involves reacting appropriately to pleasure and pain.
- Courage, for example, requires a balanced response to fear, falling between cowardice and rashness.
Definition of Virtue
- Virtues are states of the soul: emotions, capacities, or dispositions.
- Emotions and capacities are not morally judged, but dispositions are.
- Good dispositions make individuals virtuous and enable them to live well.
The Doctrine of the Mean
- Virtues are a mean between two vices, one of excess and one of deficiency.
- Example: Courage lies between excessive fear (cowardice) and insufficient fear (rashness).
- The mean is situation-dependent, not strictly mid-point between vices.
Exceptions and Always Bad Actions
- Some emotions and actions are inherently evil (e.g., malice, shamelessness, jealousy, adultery, theft, murder).
- No mean can be found for these; their definitions imply moral judgment.
Challenges in Identifying the Mean
- Identifying the mean is challenging; it doesn’t necessarily lie directly in the middle of vices.
Aristotle’s Advice for Finding the Mean
- Avoid the extreme that most opposes the mean (e.g., prioritize avoiding overindulgence over underindulgence).
- Recognize personal tendencies and avoid errors naturally inclined towards.
- Be cautious of pleasure-influencing actions, as pleasure can impair judgment.
These notes capture the essential points of Aristotle's discussion in Book Two regarding moral virtue and provide a framework for understanding his philosophical approach to character and behavior.