Book 5 / Chapter 1
Paragraph 6 - Justice as Complete Virtue and Its Relation to Law
Explanation - Part By Part
"Since the lawless man was seen to be unjust and the law-abiding man just, evidently all lawful acts are in a sense just acts; for the acts laid down by the legislative art are lawful, and each of these, we say, is just."
Aristotle is saying that if we consider a "lawless man" to be unjust and a "law-abiding man" to be just, then it follows that actions dictated by laws are generally considered just. Laws are created through the art of legislation, so any act that aligns with these laws—assuming the laws are legitimate—can be referred to as a just act. The idea here is that laws, ideally, are structured to promote justice and fairness within a society.
"Now the laws in their enactments on all subjects aim at the common advantage either of all or of the best or of those who hold power, or something of the sort; so that in one sense we call those acts just that tend to produce and preserve happiness and its components for the political society."
In this part, Aristotle is explaining that laws are generally created with the aim of benefiting the society as a whole. Whether the laws are intended to help everyone in the community, the best and most virtuous individuals, or simply those in positions of power, their underlying purpose is to maintain and promote the well-being and happiness of the political society. Actions that align with these laws — the ones that support and safeguard this collective happiness and its essential aspects — are considered "just." Essentially, justice is tied to the law's role in fostering a thriving and harmonious society.
"And the law bids us do both the acts of a brave man (e.g. not to desert our post nor take to flight nor throw away our arms), and those of a temperate man (e.g. not to commit adultery nor to gratify one's lust), and those of a good-tempered man (e.g. not to strike another nor to speak evil), and similarly with regard to the other virtues and forms of wickedness, commanding some acts and forbidding others; and the rightly-framed law does this rightly, and the hastily conceived one less well."
Aristotle is pointing out that laws play an essential role in encouraging virtuous behavior and discouraging harmful actions. Laws are designed to guide people toward actions associated with different virtues. For example:
- Bravery: The law asks people to act courageously, such as staying at their post in battle and not fleeing or abandoning their weapons.
- Temperance (self-control): The law forbids acts like adultery or giving in to excessive desires, promoting restraint and moderation.
- Good temper: The law discourages harmful behaviors like physically striking others or spreading malicious words, encouraging calmness and civility.
Aristotle also emphasizes that well-crafted laws do this effectively by aligning with virtue and wisdom—promoting justice and the common good. However, laws hastily or thoughtlessly made are less effective, as they may fail to properly embody virtue or address the needs of society. Essentially, good laws aim to shape a moral society by teaching and enforcing virtuous behavior.
"This form of justice, then, is complete virtue, but not absolutely, but in relation to our neighbour. And therefore justice is often thought to be the greatest of virtues, and 'neither evening nor morning star' is so wonderful; and proverbially 'in justice is every virtue comprehended'. And it is complete virtue in its fullest sense, because it is the actual exercise of complete virtue."
Aristotle is saying that this form of justice is the most complete expression of virtue—not in an abstract or individual sense, but specifically in how we interact with others. Justice involves living out all virtues in our relationships with those around us. This is why people often consider justice to be the greatest virtue—it encompasses and puts into practice all the other virtues. It's not just possessing a good character internally but actually acting upon it in a way that benefits others. Justice is where virtue becomes fully realized because it is actively applied in the real world, especially toward ensuring fairness and the well-being of the community.
"It is complete because he who possesses it can exercise his virtue not only in himself but towards his neighbour also; for many men can exercise virtue in their own affairs, but not in their relations to their neighbour. This is why the saying of Bias is thought to be true, that 'rule will show the man'; for a ruler is necessarily in relation to other men and a member of a society."
Aristotle is highlighting a key aspect of justice by emphasizing that it is a "complete" form of virtue because it extends beyond individual actions to interactions with others. In other words, being virtuous in your personal life (managing your own behaviors and decisions) is one thing, but demonstrating virtue in your dealings with others—treating them fairly, fulfilling obligations, and fostering mutual well-being—is what makes justice so comprehensive and exceptional.
He uses the saying of Bias, "rule will show the man," to underline this point. Leadership or governance forces a person to interact with others and address their needs, showcasing whether they genuinely possess this complete virtue or not. A ruler is inherently part of a community and must make decisions that affect others, so their actions provide a clear window into their character. Simply put, justice is tested and proven in relationships and social contexts, not just in isolation.
"For this same reason justice, alone of the virtues, is thought to be 'another's good', because it is related to our neighbour; for it does what is advantageous to another, either a ruler or a copartner."
In this part, Aristotle emphasizes that justice is unique among the virtues because it directly concerns the well-being of others. Unlike virtues like courage or wisdom, which can primarily benefit the individual practicing them, justice is inherently outward-facing. It is about performing actions or making decisions that promote fairness, harmony, or advantage for "another" – whether that "other" is someone in authority (a ruler), or someone on equal standing (a partner or fellow citizen). This outward-focus is what makes justice special and fundamental for maintaining relationships and social order.
"Now the worst man is he who exercises his wickedness both towards himself and towards his friends, and the best man is not he who exercises his virtue towards himself but he who exercises it towards another; for this is a difficult task."
This part is emphasizing the idea that the "worst" person isn't just someone who harms others or acts unjustly toward society—it's someone who acts harmfully both to himself and those closest to him, like friends or loved ones. In contrast, the "best" person isn't defined merely by being virtuous in their private or personal life, but by extending that virtue outward, actively benefiting others. Aristotle is highlighting that practicing virtue in relationships with others—whether it’s fairness, kindness, or responsibility—is a more significant and challenging task than just focusing on oneself. This outward focus on others is what distinguishes truly admirable and "best" people.
"Justice in this sense, then, is not part of virtue but virtue entire, nor is the contrary injustice a part of vice but vice entire. What the difference is between virtue and justice in this sense is plain from what we have said; they are the same but their essence is not the same; what, as a relation to one's neighbour, is justice is, as a certain kind of state without qualification, virtue."
Aristotle is making a crucial point about the relationship between justice and virtue. He argues that justice, in this specific sense, isn't just one individual aspect of virtue (like courage or temperance), but rather embodies the entirety of virtue. Similarly, injustice isn't merely one form of vice but reflects the whole of vice.
To clarify the distinction he is making: While both justice and virtue are essentially the same in their moral quality—they both involve acting rightly and in a virtuous way—they operate in different domains. Virtue, broadly speaking, describes someone's inner character, their state of being moral and good in themselves. However, justice is when that virtue is applied outwardly, in relation to other people. Justice becomes the practical and social expression of virtue, emphasizing how one treats others and interacts within a community.
In short, justice is virtue when viewed through the lens of interpersonal relationships and mutual obligations. It’s the outward manifestation of being virtuous in your dealings with the world around you.