Book 2 / Chapter 3
Paragraph 2 - The Role of Pleasure and Pain in Virtue
Explanation - Part By Part
"Again, if the virtues are concerned with actions and passions, and every passion and every action is accompanied by pleasure and pain, for this reason also virtue will be concerned with pleasures and pains."
This portion is emphasizing a crucial idea: virtues—essentially the good habits or qualities of character—are closely tied to how we handle actions and emotions (or passions). Every action we take and every emotion we feel comes with some level of pleasure or pain. Since virtues guide us in navigating actions and emotions in the right way, they inevitably deal with how we manage or respond to these pleasures and pains. In other words, being virtuous involves learning how to handle the natural push and pull of what feels good and what feels difficult or uncomfortable.
"This is indicated also by the fact that punishment is inflicted by these means; for it is a kind of cure, and it is the nature of cures to be effected by contraries."
Aristotle is saying that punishment is a way to correct behavior, much like a cure is meant to heal an illness. Just as illnesses are treated by using their opposites (e.g., giving warmth for cold or rest for exhaustion), punishment uses an opposing force—like discomfort or pain—to counteract bad actions or harmful habits. Essentially, punishment is meant to serve as a corrective tool to steer people towards virtuous behavior by addressing the imbalance caused by improper desires or actions.