Book 5 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 3 - The Nature of Injustice and Voluntariness
Explanation - Part By Part
"Virtue too is distinguished into kinds in accordance with this difference; for we say that some of the virtues are intellectual and others moral, philosophic wisdom and understanding and practical wisdom being intellectual, liberality and temperance moral."
Aristotle is explaining that virtues, or the traits of character that lead to living a good life, can be divided into two main types: intellectual virtues and moral virtues.
- Intellectual virtues are related to the mind, understanding, and reasoning. They include things like philosophic wisdom (higher-level, abstract thinking about the nature of things), understanding (grasping truths), and practical wisdom (the ability to make good decisions in real-life situations). These virtues are about thinking deeply and developing knowledge.
- Moral virtues, on the other hand, are about character and behavior—how we act and conduct ourselves in relation to others. For example, liberality (generosity) is about how we give and share with others, while temperance is about self-restraint and controlling our desires.
Essentially, intellectual virtues shape how we think, while moral virtues shape how we act. Both are key elements of becoming a virtuous and fulfilled person. Aristotle is setting the foundation here to explore how these two categories of virtues differ and how they contribute to living a good life.
"For in speaking about a man's character we do not say that he is wise or has understanding but that he is good-tempered or temperate; yet we praise the wise man also with respect to his state of mind; and of states of mind we call those which merit praise virtues."
Aristotle is pointing out that when we describe someone's character (as in their moral or ethical traits), we usually focus on qualities like being good-tempered, self-controlled, or moderate. These are behavioral and emotional traits that reflect how someone manages themselves and their interactions with others.
However, Aristotle notes that we also praise things like wisdom, which is more about mental or intellectual qualities. Even though wisdom isn't necessarily an emotional trait like good temper or temperance, it still represents a particular "state of mind" that is praiseworthy.
In essence, he's saying that virtues (which are the qualities we hold up as admirable) can belong to different parts of us—some are about how we feel and act, and others are about how we think or reason. But all these praiseworthy traits, whether emotional or intellectual, are considered virtues because they contribute to living well and achieving a good life.
He's drawing attention to the fact that virtues aren't just about what we do, but also how we think and approach life.