Book 6 / Chapter 11
Paragraph 1 - Judgement and Equity
Explanation - Part By Part
"What is called judgement, in virtue of which men are said to 'be sympathetic judges' and to 'have judgement', is the right discrimination of the equitable."
Aristotle is saying that "judgment," or the ability to judge well, is essentially about making fair and balanced decisions—specifically, about recognizing what is equitable or fair in a given situation. People who possess this quality are called "sympathetic judges" because their judgment is guided by a sense of fairness and understanding, rather than rigid rules or personal biases. This ability involves discerning what is appropriate or just in a way that accounts for the nuances and specific contexts of each situation.
"This is shown by the fact that we say the equitable man is above all others a man of sympathetic judgement, and identify equity with sympathetic judgement about certain facts."
Aristotle is saying here that a person who is considered "equitable" is someone who excels in having sympathetic judgment. In other words, being equitable means having the ability to understand and judge situations with fairness, compassion, and a keen sense of what is appropriate for the specific circumstances. Essentially, equity (or fairness) is directly linked to this quality of sympathetic judgment, where one carefully and accurately assesses situations, particularly those that involve moral or ethical considerations. The emphasis is on applying fairness thoughtfully, especially in nuanced scenarios where strict rules might not be enough to ensure justice.
"And sympathetic judgement is judgement which discriminates what is equitable and does so correctly; and correct judgement is that which judges what is true."
This part is explaining the idea of "sympathetic judgment," which means having the ability to fairly and accurately evaluate what is equitable, or just. Being equitable involves understanding not just the strict application of rules but also the broader principles of fairness and humanity in specific situations. Aristotle is saying that sympathetic judgment ensures you make decisions that align with equity, and this process of judgment—when done well—leads you to recognize what is truly correct and fair. Essentially, sympathetic judgment bridges fairness with truth, emphasizing the importance of applying justice with thoughtful understanding rather than rigid strictness.