(First published in American Philosophical Quarterly 10 (1973), pp. So Aristotle wants to claim that the doctrine of the mean, combined with practical reason gives us an account of how we can know what the virtuous action is in both a general and specific sense. Aristotle’s first mention of the doctrine of the mean can be found in Book II 1104a12. To initially describe Aristotle’s basic theory of virtue, he questions how human beings produce a good result. An excess of bravery leads people to do really stupid things; the example I normally use is the frat-brat who’ll jump off the fraternity house roof just to prove how brave he is. The proud man, then, is an extreme in respect of the greatness of his claims, but a mean in respect of the rightness of them; for he claims what is accordance with his merits, while the others go to excess or fall short. His claim was that virtue can only be learned through consistent practice; there isn’t a set guideline that one must obey and learn from. First, let us ask what the good even is. What is Aristotle's position on the doctrine of the mean in relation to morality? He claims that by means of the antithesis of potentiality and actuality, he has solved the ancient problem of becom­ing, which troubled almost all great thinkers of Greece. 5 An issue of method needs to be addressed here. Aristotle’s doctrine of the four causes is crucial, but easily misunderstood. What is Aristotle's doctrine of the mean? Thus, matter exists for the sake of receiving its form, and an organism has sight for the sake of seeing. Moreover, he claims this excellence cannot be isolated and so competencies are also required appropriate to related functions. Aristotle’s Ethical Doctrine of the Mean. Some features of the site may not work correctly. This is Aristotle’s account of moral decision-making. The Doctrine of the Mean. A virtuous act only exists at the median between the two vices ,each virtue for that reason ,has a corresponding vice on either the deficit or the excessive of it. Semantic Scholar extracted view of "X—Aristotle's Doctrine that Virtue is a “Mean”" by W. Hardie. Basically, Aristotle claims that potentiality exists for the sake of actuality. Consider the virtue of bravery, for example. Examining the texts of Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” and “Politics” side by side, one is bound to find parallels between his reasoning with regard to the individual and to the state. For example, one’s body temperature is neither too high nor too low. Potentiality and actuality are not absolute terms; these are relative terms, which shade off into each other. This is actually the Confucian way of applying the doctrine, not Aristotle's. Aristotle defined virtue as the desirable middle ground between two extremes, the Golden Mean.In Aristotle’s 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.” Aristotle’s views on god as actuality may have encouraged the author of the Arabic Plotinus in making the further claim that God is not just pure actuality, but pure being, in Arabic anniyya faqat. Aristotle’s doctrine of the Mean is reminiscent of Buddha’s Middle Path, but there are intriguing differences. This subject area can be found in Volume 2, page 888, page 6-15, page 890, page 25. Semantic Scholar extracted view of "X—Aristotle's Doctrine that Virtue is a “Mean”" by W. Hardie. There are several passages from Aristotle's works, the translation of which does not convey the original meaning. Many people believe that the doctrine of the mean is really a doctrine of moderation, and that we should simply aim for the 'centre' so to speak. This is related to a medical idea that a healthy person is in a balanced state. The claim that moral virtues are means minimally entails that each virtue must be flanked by a corresponding deficiency and excess. According to the doctrine of the mean, ... Aristotle claims that character develops over time as one acquires habits from parents and community, first through reward and punishment. Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean and the Problem of Self-Control Introduction Aristotle’s Nicomahean Ethics is a rich text of ancient wisdom, much of which has become ingrained into today’s rhetoric in many schools of thought in the western world. If we take Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean seriously, it would imply that the right act would be a mean between the extremes of too good and too bad. Thankfully , Plato (Aristotle’s teacher) did not endorse the doctrine of the golden mean ,at least when it comes to the virtue of non-envy versus the vice of envy . Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean is frequently characterized as the doctrine that one should do all things in moderation. It’s not brave; it’s rash. Envy versus non-envy provides a ready touchstone to show that the doctrine of the golden mean is false , and absurd . Becoming, or change, or motion is the passage of potentiality into actuality, of matter into form. Posted on February 26, 2015 by kbuquiron Leave a comment. Skip to search form Skip to main content > Semantic Scholar's Logo. Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean. 2. 384-322 bc. First, there is a sort of equilibrium that the good person is in (1106a). For Aristotle the mean was a method of achieving virtue, but for Buddha the Middle Path referred to a peaceful way of life which negotiated the extremes of harsh asceticism and sensual pleasure seeking. 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. Explain why this is an inaccurate characterization of the doctrine of the mean, making sure to support your position with careful reasoning and relevant textual support. To begin, Aristotle discusses virtues that a person can portray: temperance, gentleness, liberality, courage, prudence, wit, etc. According to Aristotle’s 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. It is natural for us (post-Humeans) to think of (what Aristotle calls) “causes” in terms of our latter-day notion of cause-and-effect. Aristotle claims that the feeling part is just as much part of the human being as the intellectual part. For Aristotle, the doctrine of the mean is a moral frame of reference by which each manâ s character can be better understood. The Doctrine of the Mean in Aristotle’s Politics. A vigorous critique of this claim has been offered by Rosalind Hursthouse. The etymology of the term anniyya has been a matter of some debate, and the influence of the idea that God is ‘pure being’ has been traced as far forward as Aquinas (Taylor 1998). Aristotle holds a teleological worldview: he sees the universe as inherently purposeful. Aristotle developed this doctrine during the discussion of excellence in the aforementioned book. Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics Virtue as the Mean Between Two Extreme States. Rosenfield, 'The Doctrine of the Mean in Aristotle's Rhetoric', Theoria, 31 (1965), pp. ARISTOTLE'S DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN. On this “character r elativity” interpretation of Aristotle’ s doctrine that the mean is “relative to us,” what a person should do and feel depends upon the character of that person. No, Aristotle makes clear that the determining the mean in any given situation is hard, "it is easy to get angry - anyone can do that - or to give and send money; but to feel or act towards the right person to the right extent at the right time for the right reason in the right way - that is not easy." Having practical wisdom doesn’t come easy, you have to learn from others and need a … The Doctrine of the Mean This is a key phrase to understand Aristotle. The excellence of the eye, for instance, makes both the eye and its work good; for it is by the excellence of the eye that we see well. 115 of the Greek language had already worked out this notion to a considerable extent, as well as by other reasons to be explained afterwards. One of the most famous aspects of Aristotle’s ethics was the mean – the need to maintain balance in our actions. 1 The "Doctrine of the Mean," is the center of Aristotle's account of moral virtue, morally virtuous actions are what lie between the excess and deficiency of a trait, not too much or too little, these actions are determined contextually and they are relative to you. The Virtue of Aristotle's Ethics - by Paula Gottlieb April 2009 Skip to main content Accessibility help We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and … 3 Aristotle defines virtue or excellence as an arithmetic mean between the two extremes of excess and defect (i.e., too much or too little). 191-8, p. 191. Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean (EN 2.6) Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean is predicated upon the idea that “[moral] virtue must have the quality of aiming at the intermediate” (EN 2.6). In this article we discuss and analyze Aristotle's average doctrine. The purpose of Aristotle in this subject is to identify those personality states that are not benign. Urmson, J. O.: 1973, ‘Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean.’ In Rorty, 1980, pp. Aristotle clearly maintains that to live in accordance with reason means achieving excellence thereby. The doctrine of the mean (DOM) is a crude gauge of a person’s character and actions. Greek philosopher. Aristotle, "The Doctrine of the Mean", from The Nicomachean Ethics 11.6-7 We may safely assert that the virtue (areté )or excellence of a thing causes that thing both to be itself in good condition and to perform its function well. You are currently offline. This is misleading in several ways: Only one of Aristotle’s causes (the “efficient” cause) sounds even remotely like a Humean cause. Search . Therefore, feelings have to connect to the mind. Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean consists of three pillars that work together to form a complete account. He states that it’s not really human, unless it involves the functional part of the mind. Now, each thing has certain potentialities as a result of its form. Aristotle synonyms, Aristotle pronunciation, Aristotle translation, English dictionary definition of Aristotle. 157–170. Aristotle believes that every action is considered a pursuit to aim at some good. 4 L.W. For this reason I follow M.C. Well, for Aristotle, the good signifies perfect being, and what is good for something is dependent on the type of thing it is or its nature. Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean and the Problem of Self-Control Introduction Aristotle’s Nicomahean Ethics is a rich text of ancient wisdom, much of which has become ingrained into today’s rhetoric in many schools of thought in the western world. Question 3 Aristotle's Doctrine of the Golden Mean states that virtue involves the choice between two extremes ,the vice of the excess and the vice of deficiency. Sign In Create Free Account. …show more content… He says that a person with practical wisdom is able to define what is in the mean.