The doctrine of the mean aristotle

Aristotles doctrine of the mean keeping things in balance i. For aristotle, happiness, literally meaning living well and doing well, is the. It may suffer for my rephrasing, but sometimes avoiding the customary language helps make things more clear. This chapter suggests that the analogy between moral sense and the primary sense is of considerable value. The mean is also described as the unswerving pivot ezra pound unwobbling pivot or zhongyong. Therefore, the doctrine of the mean, the thesis that virtue strives for the intermediate, must be false. This text is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced. Aristotles doctrine that virtue is a mean 185 variable quantities excess or defect of which constitutes vice. Doctrine of the mean aristotles doctrine, stated most explicitly in book ii, that virtue is a mean state between the vicious extremes of excess and deficiency. What does the doctrine of the mean enable us to do. The matter will become clear, aristotle says, if we consider the specific nature of virtue. For aristotle, the doctrine of the mean is a moral frame of reference by which each manaaas character can be better understood.

If ari is with us now, hell tell us that theres no such thing as the doctrine of the golden mean. Though the doctrine seems to be simplistic at face value, its complexity is quite intriguing. What are some examples of aristotles doctrine of the mean. Aristotle s doctrine of the mean originally appeared in history of philosophy quarterly 43, july 1987. Aristotle defines virtue or excellence as an arithmetic mean between the two extremes of excess and defect i. This is important because it is a different type of thought found only in humans, and not shared by any other animal species. Part 3 aristotle the golden mean aristotle was a greek philosopher that taught and stressed many important and revolutionary ideasphilosophies. This is the basis of the aristotelian doctrine of the mean. Scholars of the nicomachean ethics disagree on whether the mean, understood in a quantitative way, helps us choose the virtuous action, or if it is a merely empty formalism. For aristotle the doctrine of the mean is a way to categorize one of his favorite activities moral virtue. He was born in 384 bc, and was a student of plato, as well as founded taught at several academies. Aristotle was a greek philosopher, a student of plato who was responsible for major contributions for metaphysics to ethics, aesthetics and politics. A central part of this doctrine is the doctrine of the mean. This theory has been put forward by two of the greatest social thinkers.

The guiding principle is that one should never act in excess. Nov 18, 2016 aristotle believed that the correct way to live was to follow the doctrine of the mean, the middle way. Aristotles doctrine of the mean and the circularity of. His constant phrase is, is the middle state between. I examine the doctrine of the mean from the following four aspects. The doctrine of the mean in the eudemian ethics stanford. This middle way was the centre point between 2 vices excess and deficiency, the virtue. Virtue is a matter of having the appropriate attitude toward pain and pleasure.

Aristotle believed that the correct way to live was to follow the doctrine of the mean, the middle way. Aristotles doctrine of the mean analysis 1098 words cram. Aristotle thought that there were two overriding virtues, intellectual and moral. A defense of aristotle would have to say that the virtuous person does after all aim at a mean, if we allow for a broad enough notion of what sort of aiming is. Essentially, it consists of the observation that it is always possible to. Most of the time, happiness to humans is enjoying time with friends or loved ones, but to aristotle happiness. The doctrine of the mean can tell us some things about moral virtues, but i would also that the doctrine of the mean ultimately creates a rather unhelpful and overly simplistic concept of morality.

In spite of some difficulties in detail, it is quite possibly true. Essay on the doctrine of the mean in aristotles politics. Analysis of aristotle s the golden mean 1109 words 5 pages. The objection, then, is that aristotle s doctrine of the mean, taken as a doctrine about what the ethical agent does when he deliberates, is in many cases inapplicable or unilluminating. In the same way, aristotles simile suggests, virtue rarely demands a single precisely determined act, or an emotional reaction of a particular intensity, duration. The mean is the average, the median is the middle number, and the mode is the number the occurs most frequently.

In any good pusuit there are corrosponding but opposite errors which may be made. The problem with the doctrine is understanding what it means to be in the intermediary. Introduction aristotles 384 bc 322 bc doctrine of the mean has a privileged place in one of the grand moral traditions, that of virtue ethics. One of the virtues aristotle gives is friendship, which is a balance between a. The whole point to the doctrine of the mean is that there is no opposite to any virtue. The doctrine of the mean or zhongyong is both a doctrine of confucianism and also the title of one of the four books of confucian philosophy.

Aristotle s doctrine of the mean and the problem of selfcontrol introduction aristotle s 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. It is with aristotle s views on virtue that this paper is primarily concerned, more. We learn moral virtue primarily through habit and practice rather than through reasoning and instruction. Courage and aristotles doctrine of the mean anonymous. Aristotle and the doctrine of the mean aristotle seeks flourishing happiness in life. Aristotle describes ethical virtue as a hexis state condition disposition. Aristotle taught that humans are rational agents, with their actions being purposefully directed toward particular ends, which they deem good. A defense of aristotle would have to say that the virtuous person does after all aim at a mean, if we allow for a broad enough notion of what sort of aiming is involved. Pdf a2 philosophy is aristotles doctrine of the mean. According to aristotle, how are intellectual virtues cultivated. According to aristotle, each of the virtues of character. Courage is the mean between cowardice complete defect of courage and excess of fear which paralyses action and rashness complete defect of prudent fear or caution and an excess of foolish or imprudent action without even noticing.

So to describe cowardly as the opposite of courage, if courage is supposed to be a virtue, is not consistent with the mean doctrine, because virtues do not have. But what is it for emotions and actions to be in a mean. Nov 02, 20 most ethicists think the strongest ethical theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Ristotles account of excellence of charac ter, of which the doctrine of the mean is a part, seems to me to be both interesting and bold. This excerpt from book ii of aristotles nicomachean ethics was translated by w. What is the doctrine of the mean, according to aristotle and confucius. Aristotle s doctrine of the mean 225 so in the case of excellence of character both emotions and actions are in a mean, whatever that signifies. The doctrine of the mean represents moderation, rectitude, objectivity, sincerity, honesty and propriety. The perfect wordsincerity ethics the great digest and. An interpretation of the passage would be that at any given virtue lies between two extremes, either. It was published as a chapter in the classic of rites the phrase doctrine of the mean first occurs in book vi, verse 29 of the analects of confucius.

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. Jun 15, 2007 aristotles doctrine of the mean keeping things in balance i. Aristotle and the doctrine of the mean 1443 words 123 help me. Both the opposing things, the two extremes, are vices, and virtue is a middle point between them. He believed that the function of a human was to engage in an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

When applied to specific virtues such as courage, it illuminates what aristotle believes to be the complex relationship among the agent of virtue, his judgment. Aristotle believes that virtues are the mean of two vices. Aristotles doctrine of the mean is sometimes dismissed as an unhelpful and unfortunate mistake in what would otherwise be or perhaps, in spite of this lapse, still is a worthwhile enterprise. Is aristotles doctrine of the mean a plausible guide to moral goodness. Virtue as the mean between two extreme states note on the text. The doctrine of the mean in aristotles politics research. Both these thinkers call for an individual to adopt the middle ground i. Oct 10, 2018 philosophers, past and present, have put forward many theories regarding ethics and morality. Aristotles theory on virtue ethics is one that does not see a persons actions as a reflection of their ethics but rather looks into the character of a person as the reason behind their ethics.

The doctrine of the mean is divided into three parts. It is aristotles innovation, however, to draw the distinction between an arithmetical notion and an ethical mean. According to the doctrine of the mean, virtue is the mean state toward good activities, and a virtuous person behaves appropriately out of his mean state. Back in grade school we learned to distinguish the mean, the median, and the mode. A dead simple guide to aristotles philosophy of golden mean. Is aristotles doctrine of mean useful for making moral.

In this video, i explain his golden mean mean between. For aristotle, the doctrine of the mean is a moral frame of reference by which each mans character can be better understood. Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess, which are vices. Aristotles doctrine of the mean refers to every basic question one can come up with will have a path which leads back to the same common denominator, which is the curiosity of man. Aristotle and the doctrine of the mean 1443 words 123. Most ethicists think the strongest ethical theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Aristotles doctrine of the mean, a fundamental tenet of his system of ethics, also permeates his treatment of rhetorical theory.

Aristotles doctrine of the mean and its relationship to rhetoric. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Sep 30, 2018 my approach is decidedly nontechinical. I believe that aristotle developed something really fundamental for the benefit of mankind in society. Aristotles the doctrine of the mean philosophy essay.

Thus, courage, for example, is the mean between two extremes. The doctrine of the mean the doctrine of the mean chapter. 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. The doctrine of the mean is a text rich with symbolism and guidance to perfecting oneself.

You dont want to have too much or too little of something. A person acts virtuously iff he strikes the right balance between passions and choices. The concept of the mean is not aristotles own invention, but has a long tradition. Apr 09, 20 so that is aristotle s definition of virtue which includes the socalled doctrine of the mean. Aristotles doctrine of the mean essay 1017 words bartleby. The objection, then, is that aristotles doctrine of the mean, taken as a doctrine about what the ethical agent does when he deliberates, is in many cases inapplicable or unilluminating. The doctrine of the meansometimes referred to as the golden meanis a greek dogma often associated with aristotles ethical framework.

Aristotle s doctrine of the mean is sometimes dismissed as an unhelpful and unfortunate mistake in what would otherwise be or perhaps, in spite of this lapse, still is a worthwhile enterprise. 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. Aristotles doctrine of the mean is supposed to help in regulating our desires to find a balance between too much and too little regulation. We might defend aristotle with the following reinterpretation. This excerpt from book ii of aristotle s nicomachean ethics was translated by w. Aristotles doctrine of the mean originally appeared in history of philosophy quarterly 43, july 1987. His main argument is basely on eudaimonia and how humans can attain that. The doctrine is very helpful and does work, but one must beware the exceptions and carefully contemplate for himself whether these things are so. This essay examines whether aristotles doctrine of the mean is useful for making moral decisions and concludes that it is, but under a fundamentally different framework than those demanded by either utilitarian or kantian deontological ethics. 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. The concept of courage in the aristotelian thought. This essay examines whether aristotle s doctrine of the mean is useful for making moral decisions and concludes that it is, but under a fundamentally different framework than those demanded by either utilitarian or kantian deontological ethics.

In everything that is continuous and divisible sunechei kai diairetj it is possible to take more, less. Aristotles doctrine of the mean, as it is found in the. In one sense, it is easily comprehensible as having the right references to do the right action, but for example, in the case of fear and confidence. Nicomachean ethics, helps to explain this circular, and in some ways puzzling, tension between having a nature and giving an account of ones nature. Aristotles doctrine, stated most explicitly in book ii, that virtue is a mean state between the vicious extremes of excess and deficiency. In the eudemian ethics, aristotle writes on the virtues. Aristotle and the doctrine of the mean essay 2053 words. Aristotles doctrine of the mean essay academic master. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Aristotles doctrine of the mean, i believe, may shed some light on the nature of moral virtues virtues of character. First published in american philosophical quarterly 10 1973, pp. Dec 18, 2011 aristotles virtue ethics the following is another essay i wrote back in 2008.

One of these theories is called the doctrine of the mean. So that is aristotles definition of virtue which includes the socalled doctrine of the mean. Write in the word true or the word false in the appropriate space provided for the following statements. To find the happy medium between excess and deficiency. This doctrine is left necessarily vague, as aristotle thinks that this mean varies from person to person.

My paper presents evidence that the doctrine of the mean does not fully describe the account of virtue in the eudemian ethics. His ethics are primarily designed to make people conscious of themselves in what they strive forwhy they have certain goals and aspirations in life. Aristotles doctrine of the mean is a unique theory that is used for ethical views today. This is important because it is a different type of thought found only.

The text is attributed to zisi or kong ji, the only grandson of confucius. Jun 12, 2011 aristotle was a greek philosopher, a student of plato who was responsible for major contributions for metaphysics to ethics, aesthetics and politics. Virtue, the core component of aristotelian happiness eudaimonia, is a mean. Aristotles virtue ethics the following is another essay i wrote back in 2008. May 10, 2010 aristotle s doctrine of the mean refers to every basic question one can come up with will have a path which leads back to the same common denominator, which is the curiosity of man. Aristotles doctrine of the mean can be found in his works referenced in the second book of his nicomachean ethics. Zhong means bent neither one way or another, and yong represents unchanging. He believes that this can be achieved for each individual through the embracement of virtues. The intellectual being learntdeveloped through instruction taught in the rational part of the soul. When applied to specific virtues such as courage, it illuminates what aristotle believes to be the complex relationship among the agent of virtue, his judgment, and his character.