Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean can be found in his works referenced in the second book of his Nicomachean Ethics. Though the doctrine seems to be simplistic at face value, it’s complexity is quite intriguing. I believe that Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean doesn’t truly help us make particular moral decisions because of how vague it is. Yet, it guides us in our approach to the moral decisions at hand.
The Doctrine of the mean is often referred to as the “Golden Mean.” The mean is a virtue between two vices. Aristotle refers to two types of virtues. There are moral and intellectual virtues which make our actions good, or our thinking good. Aristotle often uses the example of Courage as a virtue. Other virtues may be any of the following: Determination, Modesty, Bravery, Excellence, and Trust. A vice is the deficiency or the excess surrounding the virtue and its situation. For example, if the virtue is courage, then the vices would either be recklessness (excess), or being a coward …show more content…
It’s the regulated rules guiding the behaviour of a person. Yet, Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean is not able to do this, because of how unlcear it is. It’s the, “Inability to answer all our moral questions for us,” (Waluchow, 219). An ethical theory should help people sort out what we should do in life situations. That’s the importance and intentions of an ethical theory. For example, if you’re a doctor and you have to decide between trying to save the patient, causing them horrendous pain (excess), or leaving the patient and letting them die in order to cause no pain (deficiency). How must a doctor decide what to do? How do you balance virtue? This theory leaves us to our own devices especially when we are in need of direction the most. This is yet another reason why I’m not fully convinced that this doctrine can help us make particular moral
The Doctrine of the mean is often referred to as the “Golden Mean.” The mean is a virtue between two vices. Aristotle refers to two types of virtues. There are moral and intellectual virtues which make our actions good, or our thinking good. Aristotle often uses the example of Courage as a virtue. Other virtues may be any of the following: Determination, Modesty, Bravery, Excellence, and Trust. A vice is the deficiency or the excess surrounding the virtue and its situation. For example, if the virtue is courage, then the vices would either be recklessness (excess), or being a coward …show more content…
It’s the regulated rules guiding the behaviour of a person. Yet, Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean is not able to do this, because of how unlcear it is. It’s the, “Inability to answer all our moral questions for us,” (Waluchow, 219). An ethical theory should help people sort out what we should do in life situations. That’s the importance and intentions of an ethical theory. For example, if you’re a doctor and you have to decide between trying to save the patient, causing them horrendous pain (excess), or leaving the patient and letting them die in order to cause no pain (deficiency). How must a doctor decide what to do? How do you balance virtue? This theory leaves us to our own devices especially when we are in need of direction the most. This is yet another reason why I’m not fully convinced that this doctrine can help us make particular moral