Book 10 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 5 - The Importance of Law and Reason in Moral Training
Explanation - Part By Part
"However that may be, if (as we have said) the man who is to be good must be well trained and habituated, and go on to spend his time in worthy occupations and neither willingly nor unwillingly do bad actions,"
Aristotle is emphasizing that for someone to become a morally good person, they need to be shaped and prepared through proper training and consistent practice of virtuous habits. This preparation involves living a life focused on worthwhile activities and ensuring that they avoid doing anything wrong—whether on purpose or by accident. Essentially, developing goodness requires a lifetime of deliberate effort and guidance.
"and if this can be brought about if men live in accordance with a sort of reason and right order, provided this has force,-if this be so,"
Aristotle is explaining that for someone to become a good and virtuous person, they need to live according to reason and a sense of order—that is, a life guided by logical thinking and moral principles. However, this isn't just a theoretical idea; it needs to have real force behind it to shape behavior. In other words, for people to live virtuously, their habits and actions must align with reason and order, but this alignment often requires some kind of external authority or system to enforce it.
If such reasoning and order have "force," then they become effective tools in guiding people toward the good life. He’s emphasizing that rules or principles on their own won’t work unless they are backed by the necessary influence to ensure people follow them.
"the paternal command indeed has not the required force or compulsive power (nor in general has the command of one man, unless he be a king or something similar),"
Aristotle is saying here that the authority or command of a single individual — like a father over his family or any ordinary person — generally doesn’t have enough power or influence to compel people to act virtuously or follow reason consistently. Simply put, one person's ability to enforce moral behavior or discipline is limited, unless that person holds a position of great authority, like a king or someone with similar power. Such figures might have the necessary weight or force to guide behavior on a broader scale, but for most, individual commands lack the means to truly shape people's actions on a societal level.
"but the law has compulsive power, while it is at the same time a rule proceeding from a sort of practical wisdom and reason."
This part emphasizes the unique role of the law in guiding human behavior. Aristotle is saying that laws have compulsive power—they have the ability to enforce compliance, which individual commands, like those from a parent or an ordinary person, usually lack. But the key distinction he makes is that laws do not just compel; they are rooted in a kind of practical wisdom and reason. In other words, laws are (ideally) designed not just to punish or control but to embody rational principles that guide people toward what is good and just. This rational foundation gives laws their authority and moral legitimacy, making them more than mere instruments of coercion.
"And while people hate men who oppose their impulses, even if they oppose them rightly, the law in its ordaining of what is good is not burdensome."
Here, Aristotle is making an important observation about human nature and the role of the law. He points out that people tend to dislike being told what to do, especially when their impulses or desires are being challenged—even if the person challenging them is in the right. For example, if someone acts as a moral guide or critic, trying to steer others away from harmful behavior, they might still face resentment simply because they are opposing other people's immediate wants or wishes.
However, Aristotle highlights that the law, when it promotes what is good and virtuous, does not feel as oppressive or burdensome as an individual correcting someone directly. This is because the law operates impersonally, representing reason and wisdom in an objective way. People are more likely to accept rules coming from a system of laws than from a single individual, even if the intent behind both is the same: to encourage virtuous behavior and discourage harmful actions.