Book 6 / Chapter 13
Paragraph 2 - The Interdependence of Practical Wisdom and Moral Virtue
Explanation - Part By Part
"It is clear, then, from what has been said, that it is not possible to be good in the strict sense without practical wisdom, nor practically wise without moral virtue."
Aristotle is saying that being truly good (in the deepest and most meaningful sense) requires both practical wisdom and moral virtue, and neither can exist fully without the other. Practical wisdom is the ability to reason and make sound decisions about how to live well, while moral virtue is about having the right character traits, like courage, self-control, and kindness. These two qualities are intertwined—you can't be truly wise about how to act if you're not morally virtuous, and you can't be truly virtuous if you're not guided by wisdom. In short, being ethically excellent is a combination of thinking well and acting well.
"But in this way we may also refute the dialectical argument whereby it might be contended that the virtues exist in separation from each other; the same man, it might be said, is not best equipped by nature for all the virtues, so that he will have already acquired one when he has not yet acquired another."
In this part, Aristotle is addressing a potential argument that claims virtues can exist independently of one another—that a person might naturally possess one virtue but not another, or acquire one virtue without acquiring the rest. For example, someone might be naturally brave but lack generosity or self-control. Aristotle argues against this idea in the broader context of his philosophy.
His point is that true, fully developed virtues (not just natural tendencies) are interconnected and cannot genuinely exist in isolation. Full, mature virtues depend on a harmony of qualities, guided by practical wisdom (a well-reasoned understanding of what is truly good and how to act accordingly). Without this guiding wisdom, virtues remain incomplete or merely natural inclinations, like raw potential rather than fully realized qualities. For true goodness, all virtues must align and complement one another under the guidance of reason.
"This is possible in respect of the natural virtues, but not in respect of those in respect of which a man is called without qualification good; for with the presence of the one quality, practical wisdom, will be given all the virtues."
Aristotle is making an important distinction here. He is explaining that natural virtues—qualities like bravery, generosity, or self-control that someone might be born with or naturally inclined toward—can exist on their own, independent of one another. For example, a person might be naturally brave but lack self-control. These traits exist in a fragmented or incomplete way, which he ties to one's innate tendencies or nature.
However, when it comes to the true, complete virtues—the ones that make a person "good without qualification" (meaning fully and truly virtuous)—these cannot exist independently of one another. They are unified and bound together through the guiding presence of practical wisdom. Practical wisdom (or phronesis) is the ability to reason well about how to act virtuously in real-life situations. It harmonizes and shapes all the other virtues into a cohesive whole.
In short, natural virtues might show up here and there, unevenly distributed across a person's character, but for someone to embody virtue completely—to be genuinely good in an overarching sense—they must possess practical wisdom, which ensures that all their virtues are integrated and function together.
"And it is plain that, even if it were of no practical value, we should have needed it because it is the virtue of the part of us in question; plain too that the choice will not be right without practical wisdom any more than without virtue; for the one deter, mines the end and the other makes us do the things that lead to the end."
Aristotle is emphasizing the inseparable relationship between practical wisdom (phronesis) and moral virtue. Even if practical wisdom didn’t have any immediate usefulness, we would still need it because it pertains to the part of our soul or character that governs ethical action and reasoned choice.
He is arguing that to make a correct decision in life, two things must work together:
1. Virtue: This shapes our desires and moral character so we aim for the right goals or ends in life. Virtue tells us what is worth pursuing or valuing (e.g., justice, courage, generosity). It determines why we choose to act.
2. Practical Wisdom: This is the reasoning ability that helps us figure out how to achieve those goals in specific situations. It guides our actions and ensures that we pursue our virtuous aims in the most effective and appropriate way.
Without either of these—if we lack virtue or practical wisdom—our choices will fall short. Virtue gives us noble goals to aim for, and practical wisdom helps us decide the correct steps to reach them. For Aristotle, you cannot live a fully good life unless both elements are present and working together.