Book 2 / Chapter 6
Paragraph 5 - The Doctrine of the Mean
Explanation - Part By Part
"Virtue, then, is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean, i.e. the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the man of practical wisdom would determine it."
Aristotle is explaining what virtue is and how it works in our character and decision-making. Virtue is not just about having good intentions or being morally good; it’s a state of character. This means it’s something deeply ingrained in who you are—a part of your personality that guides your behavior.
Virtue is "concerned with choice," meaning it’s about the deliberate decisions we make, not about instincts or random actions. It involves consciously choosing how to act based on a sense of what’s right.
When Aristotle says virtue lies "in a mean," he means it’s about balance—not too much, not too little, but just the right amount relative to us. In other words, the right balance depends on the situation, the person, and their circumstances. What’s moderate or appropriate for one person might not be exactly the same for another.
This balance isn’t found randomly or instinctively; it’s "determined by a rational principle." That means it’s guided by logical thought and reason. Specifically, it’s determined by the kind of reasoning that a person with practical wisdom—someone who is experienced, thoughtful, and skilled at making good decisions—would use. Virtue, then, is about striking the right balance in our actions by thinking rationally and making choices that a wise person would consider correct.
"Now it is a mean between two vices, that which depends on excess and that which depends on defect; and again it is a mean because the vices respectively fall short of or exceed what is right in both passions and actions, while virtue both finds and chooses that which is intermediate."
What Aristotle is saying here is that virtue exists as a balance, or a "middle ground," between two extremes—what he calls vices. One extreme involves too much of something (excess), and the other involves too little (defect). These extremes lead to behaviors or feelings that are morally or practically problematic, but virtue, instead, is the ideal balance.
For example:
- Courage is a virtue that lies between two vices: recklessness (excessive boldness) and cowardice (a lack of boldness). Courage strikes the "mean" by being bold when appropriate but not excessively so.
- Similarly, generosity lies between wastefulness (excessive giving) and stinginess (insufficient giving).
Virtue isn't just about finding this balance accidentally—it requires a conscious and rational choice. A virtuous person deliberately identifies and acts in this balanced, intermediate way—choosing what is "just right" in feelings and actions. This balance isn't the same for everyone; it's "relative to us," depending on individual circumstances and guided by reason.
"Hence in respect of its substance and the definition which states its essence virtue is a mean, with regard to what is best and right an extreme."
Aristotle is making a subtle but important distinction here. He is saying that, in its essence or nature ("substance"), virtue is about finding the middle ground—the "mean"—between two extremes: excess and deficiency. For instance, courage is the mean between recklessness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency). This "mean" is not the same for everyone; it is relative to the individual and determined through reason and wisdom.
However, when it comes to choosing the right thing to do, virtue is not "average" or "mediocre." Instead, it is an "extreme" in terms of excellence. It represents the peak of human character, the best possible choice in any situation. So, to summarize, Aristotle views virtue as living in the balanced middle (the mean), but when it comes to moral excellence and what’s right, virtue is the supreme point.