Book 3 / Chapter 5
Paragraph 8 - The Nature of Virtues and Voluntary Actions
Explanation - Part By Part
"With regard to the virtues in general we have stated their genus in outline, viz. that they are means and that they are states of character, and that they tend, and by their own nature, to the doing of the acts by which they are produced, and that they are in our power and voluntary, and act as the right rule prescribes."
Aristotle is summarizing some key points about virtues here. First, he reminds us that virtues are a balance or means—they don't go to extremes but exist at a middle point between too much and too little. Virtues are also seen as states of character, meaning they are settled dispositions or habits that define how we tend to behave. These habits naturally lead us to act in ways that match the kind of behavior that originally helped develop those traits. For example, practicing kindness leads to more kind actions.
Additionally, virtues are described as being within our control (in our power) and something we choose (voluntary), meaning we are actively responsible for cultivating them. Finally, acting virtuously involves following the "right rule," or doing what reason and ethical judgment deem proper in a given situation. This ties virtues to thoughtful, intentional action, not just following whims or instincts.
"But actions and states of character are not voluntary in the same way; for we are masters of our actions from the beginning right to the end, if we know the particular facts, but though we control the beginning of our states of character the gradual progress is not obvious any more than it is in illnesses; because it was in our power, however, to act in this way or not in this way, therefore the states are voluntary."
Aristotle is reflecting on the idea that while both actions and character traits (virtues or vices) are voluntary, they don’t play out in quite the same way. Actions are voluntarily chosen in a clear and immediate sense—we have control from the start to the finish, provided we understand the specifics of the situation we’re acting within. For example, if you know the consequences of a choice, you can consciously decide how to act.
On the other hand, states of character—like being virtuous, kind, or cruel—are not as straightforward. While we have control over how these traits begin to develop, their progression happens gradually, often without us fully noticing, much like the way an illness can sneak up on us. For instance, repeatedly making selfish choices might slowly shape someone into a selfish person over time, but they may not realize it is happening in the moment.
Despite this gradual process, Aristotle emphasizes that these states of character are still voluntary because they ultimately stem from choices that were originally within our power to make—we could have acted differently at the outset. So, while actions and character traits differ in how they unfold, both are tied to our responsibility.