The Doctrine Of The Mean
The doctrine of the mean
"Virtue, then is a state of character concerned with choices, lying in mean, that is, the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the man of practical wisdom can determine it"
Aristotle maintains that virtues are always located between two vices, each vice either involves an excess or a defiance of what is required. For example, courage is the mean between foolhardy bravado on the one hand and cowardice on the other. Each vice involves either a deficiency (having too little) or excess (having too much) of what is required.
But a mean for one person is not a mean for another and depend entirely on the circumstance because what is appropriate for are situation may not be for another and a virtuous person is one that is phronesis (practical wisdom), the ability to determine what each situation needs.
Aristotle says this can't be attained by the young because they lack of life experience to......
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