Book 5 / Chapter 11
Paragraph 4 - The Nature of Justice Within Oneself
Explanation - Part By Part
"Metaphorically and in virtue of a certain resemblance there is a justice, not indeed between a man and himself, but between certain parts of him; yet not every kind of justice but that of master and servant or that of husband and wife."
Aristotle is pointing out that when people talk about "justice within a person," it isn't literal justice as we typically understand it—since justice usually involves interactions between multiple people. Instead, he's speaking metaphorically about a kind of harmony or order within a person's soul. This harmony resembles relationships like that of a master and servant or a husband and wife, where one party is meant to guide or lead, and the other is meant to follow or support. In this sense, Aristotle sees an internal "justice" when the rational part of the soul (the guiding part) properly rules over the irrational part (the part driven by emotions and desires).
"For these are the ratios in which the part of the soul that has a rational principle stands to the irrational part; and it is with a view to these parts that people also think a man can be unjust to himself, viz. because these parts are liable to suffer something contrary to their respective desires;"
Aristotle here is discussing the relationship between the two key aspects of the human soul: the rational part (the part that thinks, reasons, and makes decisions) and the irrational part (the part driven by emotions, desires, and instincts). He suggests that these parts of the soul relate to each other in a way similar to specific relationships in society, like that of a master and servant or a husband and wife. The rational part is meant to guide and rule, while the irrational part is supposed to follow and be ruled.
Aristotle acknowledges that sometimes, a person's irrational desires might contradict the guidance of their rational mind. For example, you know eating a lot of junk food isn't good for you (rational thought), but you still want to indulge because it tastes good (irrational desire). When this happens, it might seem like a person is being "unjust to themselves," because one part of their soul (the rational) is at odds with the other part (the irrational).
In simpler terms, it's like saying there are "conflicting teams" within you—your logical, reasonable side versus your emotional, impulsive side—and if one overpowers the other, it feels like you’re not fully in harmony with yourself.
"there is therefore thought to be a mutual justice between them as between ruler and ruled."
Aristotle is comparing the different parts of the human soul to a ruler and the ruled, suggesting that there is a kind of balance or fair relationship between these parts, similar to justice. Specifically, he sees the rational part of the soul (the thoughtful, reason-driven aspect) as the "ruler" and the irrational part (the emotional, desire-driven aspect) as the "ruled." Both parts have their roles, and for the person to function well, there needs to be harmony—where reason governs and keeps desires in check, ensuring they don’t lead to harmful or excessive behavior.
In this sense, "mutual justice" means that there’s a proper relationship or alignment between the rational and irrational parts of the soul. Each part must fulfill its role appropriately—reason must guide, and emotions/desires must follow that guidance in a balanced way. This internal dynamic ensures a kind of ethical harmony within the individual.
"Let this be taken as our account of justice and the other, i.e. the other moral, virtues."
In this final statement, Aristotle summarizes the discussion by essentially saying, "This completes our explanation of justice and its relation to the other moral virtues." Here, he acknowledges that justice isn’t just one isolated quality but is deeply tied to morality and virtue as a whole. By understanding justice (and its nuances), we also gain a better understanding of how virtues in general operate, both in society and within the individual.