Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Aristotle
Aristotle
! Arete does not refer to an intrinsic capacity or ! Instead: it is in the performance of the action
that the excellence of character becomes real
determine virtuous action, no universal test recklessness courage but prudential cowardice requires not mathematical judgment
Hence it is hard work to be virtuous, since in each case it is hard work to find what is the mean [mesotes], e.g., not everyone, but only one who knows, finds the midpoint in a circle. So also getting angry, or giving and spending money, is easy and anyone can do it; but doing it to the right person, in the right amount, at the right time, for the right end, and in the right way is no longer easy, nor can everyone do it. Hence, [doing these things] well is rare, praiseworthy, and fine (Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics , 1109a24).
Answer: the virtuous person (phronimos) virtue = excellent character, arete virtue is not just a disposition to do the right