Book 2 / Chapter 3
Paragraph 4 - The Relationship Between Virtue, Vice, and Choice
Explanation - Part By Part
"The following facts also may show us that virtue and vice are concerned with these same things. There being three objects of choice and three of avoidance, the noble, the advantageous, the pleasant, and their contraries, the base, the injurious, the painful,"
Aristotle is emphasizing that the concepts of virtue (goodness) and vice (badness) revolve around how people make decisions about certain things they desire or avoid. He identifies three main categories of things people aim for or shy away from:
1. The Noble – things that are morally admirable or honorable.
2. The Advantageous – things that are beneficial, useful, or good for us in practical terms.
3. The Pleasant – things that bring enjoyment or satisfaction.
Similarly, there are three opposing categories people seek to avoid:
1. The Base – things that are shameful, dishonorable, or lowly.
2. The Injurious – things that cause harm or are disadvantageous.
3. The Painful – things that bring discomfort or suffering.
These six categories—three to choose and three to avoid—form the basis of human decision-making. Aristotle suggests that how a person aligns their choices and aversions with these categories determines whether they're virtuous (good at making balanced, ethical decisions) or vicious (bad at it).
"about all of these the good man tends to go right and the bad man to go wrong, and especially about pleasure;"
Aristotle is saying that both good and bad people show their character in how they deal with three important things: the noble (what's morally good), the advantageous (what's useful or beneficial), and the pleasant (what feels good). While good people generally act correctly in these areas, bad people tend to mess up. However, he emphasizes that how a person handles pleasure is especially revealing. Why? Because pleasure is something everyone—humans and animals alike—naturally seeks, and it influences all decisions. Even things like virtue (nobility) and practicality (advantage) often seem more appealing when they bring some form of pleasure. This makes dealing with pleasure well an important moral test.
"for this is common to the animals, and also it accompanies all objects of choice; for even the noble and the advantageous appear pleasant."
Aristotle is emphasizing that the pursuit of pleasure is a natural inclination shared by all living creatures, not just humans. Pleasure is deeply tied to the decisions we make because it influences how things appear to us. Even things like what is noble (morally good) or advantageous (practically beneficial) often seem pleasant to us, which is why they can draw us toward them. In other words, pleasure is not separate from these higher values—it often overlaps with them, making it a powerful force in shaping our choices.