Most would argue that there is such a thing as having or doing too little or too much of one thing. Unbeknownst to the majority of these people, they have adopted Aristotle’s philosophy, specifically that of the principle of the mean. The mean is the average between two extreme vices (Soccio 178-182). Aristotle sees a morally virtuous life as one of moderation and habit. This philosophical idea can apply to people from all walks of life and it would benefit many today to put this idea into practice.
If one looks at American society, they will likely see two extremes: those who do too much and those who do too little. America is a fast-paced, high-stress, performance-based society. In an effort to meet these societal demands, people often overwork …show more content…
The idea of courage, which is considered an admiral trait by most, is oft a point of contention. A famous quote from Nelson Mandela states that courage is “not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” (CNN). This quote deals with the idea that to be courageous is not to be fearless, but to choose to face one’s fears. It is not improbable that Aristotle would agree with this idea. He argues that it is just as bad to be a coward as it is to live a fearless, reckless life. Fear is an innate protective measure, but it is not always rational. Fear leads people to do stupid things, as does the lack of fear. It would be foolish to jump off a bridge, in most cases at least, because the likelihood of ending up severely injured or even dead is possible depending on the bridge’s height. To do so would be the reckless abandonment of a biological drive to keep one safe. It is equally foolish to not stand up for what one knows to be the morally right thing. If someone’s basic rights are knowingly being violated, it would be wrong to not stand up for them. This lack of bravery allowed injustices like slavery to remain in practice even when others disagreed with it. To be truly courageous, if one is abiding by the idea of the mean, is to use one’s reasoning regarding issues rather than to act by impulse. In …show more content…
To do so is to achieve eudaimonia, which is a fully-realized existence commonly referred to as happiness (Soccio 175-176). One must live their life with good habits, which can be defined as virtue or character. These habits define who one is. According to this model, if one is habitually lazy, then one is characteristically lazy, is not achieving their full function, and has a character deficit. To live a life with good habits and moderation will lead to one living fully alive and achieving their function. According to Aristotle, this is how one can achieve the pursuit of
If one looks at American society, they will likely see two extremes: those who do too much and those who do too little. America is a fast-paced, high-stress, performance-based society. In an effort to meet these societal demands, people often overwork …show more content…
The idea of courage, which is considered an admiral trait by most, is oft a point of contention. A famous quote from Nelson Mandela states that courage is “not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” (CNN). This quote deals with the idea that to be courageous is not to be fearless, but to choose to face one’s fears. It is not improbable that Aristotle would agree with this idea. He argues that it is just as bad to be a coward as it is to live a fearless, reckless life. Fear is an innate protective measure, but it is not always rational. Fear leads people to do stupid things, as does the lack of fear. It would be foolish to jump off a bridge, in most cases at least, because the likelihood of ending up severely injured or even dead is possible depending on the bridge’s height. To do so would be the reckless abandonment of a biological drive to keep one safe. It is equally foolish to not stand up for what one knows to be the morally right thing. If someone’s basic rights are knowingly being violated, it would be wrong to not stand up for them. This lack of bravery allowed injustices like slavery to remain in practice even when others disagreed with it. To be truly courageous, if one is abiding by the idea of the mean, is to use one’s reasoning regarding issues rather than to act by impulse. In …show more content…
To do so is to achieve eudaimonia, which is a fully-realized existence commonly referred to as happiness (Soccio 175-176). One must live their life with good habits, which can be defined as virtue or character. These habits define who one is. According to this model, if one is habitually lazy, then one is characteristically lazy, is not achieving their full function, and has a character deficit. To live a life with good habits and moderation will lead to one living fully alive and achieving their function. According to Aristotle, this is how one can achieve the pursuit of