Book 1 / Chapter 13
Paragraph 6 - Distinction of Virtue: Intellectual and Moral
Explanation - Part By Part
"Virtue too is distinguished into kinds in accordance with this difference; for we say that some of the virtues are intellectual and others moral, philosophic wisdom and understanding and practical wisdom being intellectual, liberality and temperance moral."
Aristotle is pointing out that virtues can be divided into two main categories based on the distinction he just discussed between the two parts of the soul—one rational and the other non-rational yet capable of following reason. The two categories of virtues are:
1. Intellectual Virtues: These are connected to the purely rational part of the soul, which deals with knowledge, understanding, and reasoning. Examples of intellectual virtues include philosophic wisdom (deep theoretical understanding of universal truths) and practical wisdom (the ability to make good decisions in daily life).
2. Moral Virtues: These belong to the part of the soul that does not independently reason but can follow reason's guidance. Moral virtues involve habits of good behavior and emotion regulation, such as liberality (generosity) and temperance (self-control over desires).
Aristotle is emphasizing that while intellectual virtues are about the mind's capacity to think and reason, moral virtues are about shaping one's character and actions in accordance with reason. This distinction highlights the holistic way he views human excellence—it's a balance between being rational and living in harmony with that rationality.
"For in speaking about a man's character we do not say that he is wise or has understanding but that he is good-tempered or temperate; yet we praise the wise man also with respect to his state of mind; and of states of mind we call those which merit praise virtues."
In this part, Aristotle is focusing on how we describe and value different aspects of a person’s character. When we talk about someone’s character in everyday life, we don’t usually label them as "wise" or "understanding" (which are intellectual qualities). Instead, we highlight their moral traits—for example, saying someone is "good-tempered" (calm and reasonable) or "temperate" (self-controlled and moderate).
However, Aristotle acknowledges that we also admire wisdom and understanding, though these belong to the intellectual side of a person. Both intellectual and moral qualities, when they are particularly praiseworthy, are called virtues. So essentially, virtues can arise from either moral behavior (how you act and control yourself) or intellectual excellence (how you think and reason). Both types deserve recognition, but they address different aspects of what makes someone admirable.