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Aristotle's Virtue Ethics: A Guide to Being Almost Perfect

Alright, so Aristotle, that ancient Greek philosopher with his sandals and dusty tunics, gave us "virtue ethics." It’s a system for people who are supposedly trying to become their best selves by balancing their lives between extremes. Yeah, Aristotle thought humans had the capacity for rationality and goodness—as long as we weren’t lazy or reckless.

What Exactly is Virtue, Anyway?

Aristotle didn’t think of virtue as a checklist of nice things to do, like some self-help manual. Oh no, he saw virtues as "excellences" or qualities that lead us to flourish. Think courage, not cowering or charging in like a lunatic.

According to Aristotle, being virtuous means finding the golden mean—right smack in the middle between extremes. It’s a bit like walking a tightrope. Go too far left, you’re a coward. Too far right, you’re reckless. Find the balance, and you’re the hero.

The Golden Mean: Aristotle’s Fancy Word for “Moderation”

Now, the “golden mean” sounds fancy, but it’s really Aristotle’s way of saying: don’t be an extremist. Take anger, for example. Too much, you’re a maniac. Too little, you’re a doormat. Get it just right, and you’re “assertive.” Oh, if only it were that easy.

Aristotle thought people could, with some effort, figure out the right amount of things like courage, generosity, and even honesty. This wasn’t about calculating the exact percentage of courage you need, but more like feeling your way to a “balanced” life. Seems simple, but don’t let it fool you. Turns out, balance is one of the hardest things to master.

Character is Built, Not Born

Aristotle wasn’t big on excuses. You don’t get to say, “I was born this way” or “It’s my personality.” Nope, Aristotle figured you shape your character by developing good habits. You might have to work at courage by, well, doing courageous things.

Every time you face a challenge, Aristotle thought you were either training yourself to be virtuous or the opposite. According to him, you’re always becoming something. Better choose carefully.

So, Is Virtue Just a Game of Trial and Error?

Aristotle’s ethical system isn’t for the faint-hearted. He expected you to practice virtues like generosity or patience, and observe what works. Oh, and be warned: he didn’t hand out trophies for participation. This isn’t a feel-good project but a full-on commitment to becoming a decent human being.

Sure, you’re going to mess up. Maybe a lot. That’s just part of the process in Aristotle’s world. You’re supposed to learn from it, not wallow. So, every day, you’re asking yourself, “Did I move closer to the ‘mean’ today, or am I still stuck on one end?”

The Practical Wisdom (a.k.a. Using Your Brain)

According to Aristotle, virtue isn’t all about morals—it’s practical. You’re supposed to develop phronesis, or practical wisdom, to judge situations correctly. It’s not enough to know the rules. You have to know when, where, and how to apply them. Basically, Aristotle wanted you to use your head.

In real life, this means figuring out when generosity is helpful and when it’s plain foolish. If you give away all your money, congrats—you’ve won the "fool" award. Real virtue requires thinking things through, but that sounds a little inconvenient, doesn’t it?

Virtue as the Path to Happiness (or Something Like It)

Aristotle was a little obsessed with the idea of eudaimonia, or flourishing. It’s his version of happiness, which doesn’t mean lying around doing nothing. Eudaimonia is about living your best life, full of purpose and potential. According to Aristotle, you’re happiest when you’re at your best, doing things that align with virtue.

So if you’re waiting for happiness to fall in your lap, you’ll be disappointed. Aristotle would say, “Get up and start practicing virtues.” It’s not exactly a quick fix, but he’s not wrong. Happiness, in his mind, comes from becoming good—not from things going well.

Three Takeaways from Aristotle's Virtue Ethics


1. Balance is Everything: Find the middle ground, but don’t kid yourself. Extremes are easy. The real work is in moderation.


2. Character is in Your Hands: You’re not "stuck" with the personality you have. You build character by practicing virtues every day, like it or not.


3. Happiness Isn’t a Freebie: Aristotle’s “flourishing” doesn’t come from instant gratification. You want eudaimonia? Start becoming virtuous. It’s going to take time.

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