Aristotle argued that everyone will build up a good character trait through practice, ethics and virtue in order to achieve selfhappiness. And anyone who knows anything about aristotle has heard his doctrine of virtue as being a golden mean between the extremes of excess and deficiency. Aristotles statement of the gold mean is considered one of the first major philosophic research works in the world of the way to improve human society for the further happy life. A related concept in business communication is the idea of satisficing, or doing a little of what everyone wants but with no one getting exactly what she. You dont have to be much of a philosopher to realize that finding a middle way is often better than going to either extreme. Aristotles doctrine of the mean and the problem of selfcontrol introduction aristotles nicomahean ethics is a rich text of ancient wisdom, much of which has become ingrained into todays rhetoric in many schools of thought in the western world. There are two important distinctions between aristotles approach to ethics and the other. Aristotle had a complex program of ethics, and alberto only has a small amount of time to go over it with sophie.
Thrift is a virtue, too much thrift is the vice of miserliness, ot enough thrift is the vice of profligacy. Aristotles perspective on ethics was based on the virtue of being human. A dead simple guide to aristotles philosophy of golden mean. Aristotles virtue theory essay sample sample essays. Dec 05, 2010 aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2. From this theory, he inferred that man is both rational and irrational and it. The virtues that surround aristotles ethics are to be found within the golden mean, which involves finding. Its first full exposition was offered by aristotle, and according to some it has yet to receive a better exposition. Feb 27, 2018 its not quite as insightful as it sounds. The middle of two extremes, one of which is abundance and the other one is scarce, is known as the golden mean of the two extremes. The golden mean in aristotles nicomachean ethics each moral virtue is a mean or lies between extremes of pleasure or of action doing or feeling too much or too little.
In this last quote we can see another important feature of aristotles theory. The aristotelian golden mean holds that a moral man should always stand at moderate of two extremes, at one end is excess, and at the other is deficiency. Thus, he claims the human society to be happy if everybody could follow the golden mean in. According to aristotles ethical rule about the golden mean, to use a thing with virtue is a kind of moderation, as it leads the particular thing being in a good condition, and allows for its functions to be performed in a proper manner.
We study ethics in order to improve our lives, and therefore its principal concern is the nature of. How ancient wisdom can change your life is a new book by edith hall, professor in the department of classics and centre for hellenic studies at kings college, london. In the space of a few pages, many textbook authors do an admirable job of representing aristotles ideas as accurately as possible. Jul 02, 2018 our great american middle and aristotles golden mean mary p. The golden mean is a vital facet of aristotles virtue theory so it is important that it is understood and can be easily applied to any question. Nichols students of the american regime often trace its founding principles to john locke, and understand it as a modern regime, in contrast to an ancient one. Nov 30, 2010 this essay will discuss aristotles mean and argue that the mean is a useful guide to moral action. Aristotles golden rule or doctrine of the mean contends, finding the mean between excess and deficiency determines virtue through mediating to the appropriate middle of extremes for emotion or action. This, however, does not mean that moderation has to lie exactly at the center of the two, it can lie anywhere in between these extremities.
Aristotle tells us that the most important factor in the effort to achieve happiness is to have a good moral character what he calls complete virtue. Find a moderate position between those two extremes, and you will be acting morally. Aristotles ethics the golden mean flashcards quizlet. Moral behavior is the mean between two extremes at one end is excess. Modern regimes aim at protecting rights, especially freedom, whereas ancient regimes aim at fostering virtue. Sep 06, 2011 canadian author annabel lyon s historical novel the golden mean creates a deeply imagined image of aristotle s life in the macedonian capital of pella, where he tutored the young alexander. Nicomachean ethics pdf summary aristotle 12min blog. Courage being the mean between cowardice and recklessness is actually one of aristotles original examples. However, the thesis cannot be understood without an understanding of what. Our great american middle and aristotles golden mean.
The practical import of aristotle s doctrine of the mean 3 trivial and obvious4 platitudinous and a practical futility barnes, 26. Explain the significance of the golden mean in relation to aristotles virtue theory. Appearing in greek thought at least as early as the delphic maxim nothing to excess and emphasized in later aristotelian philosophy, the golden mean or golden middle way is the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency. Also, aristotle s political thinking is not separate from the ethical principles so he states that the government should be reflected in the true virtue that is law or the golden mean. The practical import of aristotles doctrine of the mean. Nevertheless, thinking about virtue did not stop with aristotle, and his ideas are not unanimously accepted. It is a distinctive ethical theory that contrasts with other influential systems of various kinds. If you moderate everything, should you not also moderate being moderate. While the practicality of the mean may have its faults, aristotles contribution to ethical theory gives us insight into a higher state of being of an individual opposed to unvirtuous state of beings. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Use these triads or others you add to the chart as a way of analyzing a major character s personal strengths and weaknesses. Firstly, the origin of state depends on the triangular nature of the human soul.
The concept of aristotle s theory of golden mean is represented in his work called nicomachean ethics, in which aristotle explains the origin, nature and development of virtues which are essential for achieving the ultimate goal, happiness greek. Pdf aristotles virtue ethics as a conceptual framework. Aristotles golden mean aristotle considered ethics to be a practical rather than theoretical study aristotle on virtue. Typically, reference is made to aristotles golden mean, and the accompanying description identifies this mode of goodness as a sort of. For example, if courage taken to excess would manifest as recklessness and if deficient as cowardice. In the article nature of virtue written by aristotle, his theory of a persons happiness and good morals is explained. This principle is often referred to as the principle of the golden mean. Aristotles golden rule the golden rule doctrine of the. Aristotle also refers to this mean as the intermediate position, by which he means that which is.
Balance, moderation and harmony are generally desirable. Its methodology must match its subject mattergood actionand must respect the fact that in this field many generalizations hold only for the most part. What are the problems with aristotles concept of the. Appearing in greek thought at least as early as the delphic maxim nothing to excess and emphasized in later aristotelian philosophy, the golden mean or golden middle way is the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency for example, in the aristotelian view, courage is a virtue, but if taken to excess would manifest as recklessness, and, in deficiency. Nov 02, 20 most ethicists think the strongest ethical theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Journalism and media ethics texts commonly invoke aristotles golden mean as a principal ethical theory that models such journalistic values as balance. The aristotles theory of golden mean is extracted from virtue ethics, which concerns with the building of good character. Aristotles theory of origin of state, its nature and the end rests on several premises. Tip many students seem to think that aristotle by his theory of the golden mean is praising mediocrity or is envisioning some bland average as a moral ideal. Aristotle conceives of ethical theory as a field distinct from the theoretical sciences. The golden mean not an arithmetic mean but a relative mean the proper application of a quality in a given context virtue is defined as the mean between the vice of excess and the vice of deficiency too much of a characteristic is as bad as too little each of us must assess our abilities and have a good. If ari is with us now, hell tell us that theres no such thing as the doctrine of the golden mean.
He suggests that rather than attempting to tell us how to live a life of virtue, aristotle simply describes what this looks like. Introduction aristotle claims that the terms eudaimonia happiness is an ultimate goal in human life and happiness is based on human nature which must begin from personal experience. Furthermore, every ethical virtue is a condition intermediate a golden mean as it is popularly known between two other states, one involving excess, and the other deficiency 1106a26b28. It is not surprising that when the doctrine of the mean is viewed as a metaethical thesis, it should appear to possess no substantive content. Aristotles golden mean is a classic example of whats wrong with the philosophy of the ancient greeks, and in fact what is wrong with a lot of other philosophy too. The golden mean is a means of assisting a person in practicing good character as they strive to make it second nature. Aristotles golden mean as theory deterioration, journal of mass media ethics 14. Aristotles theory of golden mean is referred as a virtue ethics because rather on focusing on the factors and consequences, it focuses on the development of character. From the reasons above, aristotles solution to the problem of the good life is a better answer than plato. Pdf the archer and aristotles golden mean glen koehn. So, modern virtue ethicists believe that a good ethical theory is necessarily imprecise.
Aristotle s golden mean is not a fallacy, but it is illdefined. Students of the american regime often trace its founding principles to john locke, and understand it as a modern regime, in contrast to an ancient one. Also, aristotles political thinking is not separate from the ethical principles so he states that the government should be reflected in the true virtue that is law or the golden mean. The overarching idea, here and with aristotles political thinking, is the concept of balance, or the golden meanthe best course of action, it would seem, usually aims for a combination of many different kinds of pleasure. In this video, i explain his golden mean mean between. Moral virtue is the mean between defect and excess, both of which are vice 1104a121104a26. Moral behavior is the mean between two extremes at one end is excess, at the other deficiency. The virtues that surround aristotles ethics are to be found within the golden mean, which involves finding the balance between two means. The golden mean the basic principle of the golden mean, laid down by aristotle 2,500 years ago is moderation, or striving for a balance between extremes. Dec 10, 2018 the nicomachean ethics pdf summary goes over the ten books of aristotles most famous work on the subject of ethics and being a good person. Most ethicists think the strongest ethical theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. The golden mean december 5, 2010 november 16, 2014 neel burton intellectual virtues are developed through teaching, and moral virtues through habit. Its an absolutist view right is right and must always be done, regardless of the.
In his ethics, aristotle seeks to define the guidelines for human beings to achieve happiness as a. Essay on aristotle and the doctrine of the mean 2044. Thus, he claims the human society to be happy if everybody could follow the golden mean in the life as the major philosophical virtue. Aristotles account of virtue as a mean is no truism. The main problem with the golden mean is that it makes a god of averageness. It contrasts, on the one hand, with religious systems that give a central role to the concept of a moral law, concentrating on the prohibitive aspects of morality. In aristotles philosophy, virtue is a state of being, a state apt to exercise deliberate choice, being in the relative mean, determined by reason, and as the person of practical wisdom would determine. I agree that aristotles moral system isnt an example of the golden mean fallacy, because he specifically says that the mean between any two points is not necessarily virtuous.
The nicomachean ethics, he aristotle presents his concept of the golden mean. Explain the significance of the golden mean in relation to. Pdf aristotles virtue ethics as a conceptual framework for. Journalism and media ethics texts commonly invoke aristotles golden mean as a principal ethical theory that models such journalistic values as balance, fairness, and proportion. Pdf lecture in saint james university hospital, leeds, uk find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. This is explained in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Teleology for our purposes is any philosophical theory concerned with ends and the proper means of attaining those ends. We are now set with the task to properly define what virtue is using his concept of the golden mean. Aristotle said that all people are composed of a combination of vice bad character traits and virtue good character traits. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Aristotle defined virtue as the desirable middle ground between two extremes, the golden mean. On the other hand, aristotles golden mean would not work. This is an intimate portrait of aristotle as a kind man with the judgement to survive brutal court politics.
Aristotle did not promote virtue in itself as being ethical though. He applies his idea of moderation, the golden mean in an. Aristotles ethics virtue and happiness teleology and virtue teleology aristotles ethical theory is teleological in nature. He wrote on many subjects covering a wide range of topics. Today, we would like to discuss about aristotles golden mean. Whoever said, life isnt about the destination, its about the journey id like to thank that person. For example, in the aristotelian view, courage is a virtue, but if taken to excess. Aristotles theory of virtue and happiness aristotle was one of the most respected philosophers of all time. Thus, virtue is in the middle of two vices, that is called the golden mean.
Aristotle believed that the good life lived from exercising capacity to reason. In this respect, aristotle says, the virtues are no different from technical skills. Virtue is a mean between two vices, one of excess and one of deficiency. The concept of aristotles theory of golden mean is represented in his work called nicomachean ethics, in which aristotle explains the origin, nature and development of virtues which are essential for achieving the ultimate goal, happiness greek. The golden mean in aristotles nicomachean ethics each moral virtue is a mean or lies between extremes of pleasure or of action doing or feeling. As the title makes clear, its a book about how aristotles philosophy can provide practical guidance for living, aimed at a general readership. There must be a moderate position between these two extremes. The problem the concept of virtue has a long history in moral philosophy.
What are the problems with aristotles concept of the golden mean. In case you missed this video earlier, professor peter adamson gives great examples of how aristotles golden mean concept both works and doesnt always work. He taught that virtue has to do with looking for the balance between extremes the mean between excess and deficiency. The golden mean is a sliding scale for determining what is virtuous. Practicing virtue is a practice of intellectual reason.
In our first post on aristotles nicomachean ethics public library, we learned that we become virtuous by practicing virtue. The doctrine of mean is a central concept in aristotles virtue ethics. The golden mean december 5, 2010 november 16, 2014 neel burton intellectual virtues are developed through. Aristotle and the golden mean through media ethics textbooks. As human beings we have certain moral rights and duties. In many cases the overwhelming prospect of some great pleasure obscures ones perception of what is truly good. Working from aristotles text, this article argues that the golden mean model, as widely understood and applied to media ethics, seriously belies aristotles intent. In book 11 of the ethics the state of virtue is defined as one lying in a relative. Thus the appropriate state of being is found through the moderation of wants, desires, and needs in every situation from day to day. Jan 31, 2015 aristotles theory of golden mean is referred as a virtue ethics because rather on focusing on the factors and consequences, it focuses on the development of character and the acquiring of virtues such as courage, justice, temperance, benevolence, and prudence 2015, the pursuit of happiness.