Aristotle 3
In this reading Aristotle describes virtue concerning actions and passions, and the choice of how we become our actions and passions is either of excess, defect, or intermediate. Excess and deficiency both forms of failure and the intermediate (mean) a form of success. Man is to determine a mean which lies between two vices which both falls short of goodness. Aristotle believes the middle ground will lead you to virtue while too much and too little destroy goodness. To choose the mean in our actions and passions we are to feel them at the right times, with reference to the right objects, towards the right people, with the right motive, and in the right way.(123) One of many examples Aristotle gives is regarding anger. He calls the intermediate person good-tempered which is a form of success and virtue, while the person who exceeds is irascible and the person who is deficient inirascible, both forms of failure and vice. Aristotle also points out that it is difficult to find the mean and easy to fail in many ways, "To miss the mark easy, to hit it difficult."(123) I think this is why finding
Aristotle describes that actions and passions such as theft, murder, spite, envy, shamelessness and adultery have no mean and one who acts in this manner is always wrong. This statement is undoubtedly true, yet I question if Aristotle considered the notion an eye for an eye. Is it possible that murder could be the mean, while not to murder the deficiency and to murder the innocent the excess. For instance, a mans sister is brutally murdered by another man who walks free. Could the intermediate be to murder that man, the excess to murder the mans entire family and the defect to do nothing. Or is it as simple as the moral issue that murder, in any circumstance, is wrong and no good could ever come from it. I think if Aristotle was faced with this question he would say that forgiveness is the mean and true virtue, while murder in return is the excess and depression and dwelling is the defect. Aristotle's ideas of virtue and the mean are relevant today by which people do attempt to find the middle ground of their actions and passions, usually in the strive to become better people and others to be more liked and accepted in society. Mo
Some common words found in the essay are:
Virtue Mean, actions passions, middle ground, theft murder, lean towards, lesser evils, choose lesser evils, form success, excess deficiency, forms failure, choose lesser, easily forgive,
Approximate Word count = 771
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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