Book 6 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 2 - Excellence in Deliberation
Explanation - Part By Part
"But excellence in deliberation is a certain correctness of deliberation; hence we must first inquire what deliberation is and what it is about."
Aristotle is emphasizing that in order to understand what it means to deliberate well—or to have "excellence in deliberation"—we first need to break down the concept of deliberation itself. He's pointing out that before we can judge what constitutes good or correct deliberation, we need a clear grasp of what deliberation is fundamentally about and how it functions in decision-making. It's like saying: to evaluate the quality of a tool, you first need to understand what it's designed to do. Here, deliberation is the "tool" Aristotle is analyzing.
"And, there being more than one kind of correctness, plainly excellence in deliberation is not any and every kind; for (1) the incontinent man and the bad man, if he is clever, will reach as a result of his calculation what he sets before himself, so that he will have deliberated correctly, but he will have got for himself a great evil."
Here, Aristotle is pointing out that not every type of "correctness" in thinking or deliberation is a good thing. For instance, someone who lacks self-control ("the incontinent man") or is morally bad ("the bad man") might still be clever or skilled in reasoning. Such a person might logically and effectively work through a plan to achieve a goal. However, if their goal is harmful, immoral, or destructive, their "correct deliberation" leads to bad results.
So, while their calculations and reasoning might be technically correct—they achieve the outcome they aim for—it doesn’t mean they've deliberated well in the moral or virtuous sense. Excellence in deliberation, as Aristotle seeks to define it, must involve aiming at outcomes that are genuinely good, not harmful or evil.
"Now to have deliberated well is thought to be a good thing; for it is this kind of correctness of deliberation that is excellence in deliberation, viz. that which tends to attain what is good."
Aristotle is saying that when we deliberate well—thinking carefully and wisely about a decision—it is generally seen as a positive and virtuous act. The "excellence in deliberation" he is referring to isn't just about reaching any conclusion or achieving any goal; it's specifically about aiming for what is good or beneficial through thoughtful and correct reasoning. Essentially, good deliberation is valuable because it guides us toward morally or practically good outcomes, aligning our choices with what is ultimately right or worthwhile.
"But (2) it is possible to attain even good by a false syllogism, and to attain what one ought to do but not by the right means, the middle term being false; so that this too is not yet excellence in deliberation this state in virtue of which one attains what one ought but not by the right means."
Aristotle is saying that even if someone arrives at a correct or good outcome, the process they used to get there matters. If a person reaches a good conclusion but uses flawed reasoning (a false syllogism) or employs incorrect methods along the way, this does not count as real excellence in deliberation. Excellence in deliberation is not just about getting the "right answer" or achieving a goal—it’s about doing so through sound, correct reasoning and appropriate means.
"Again (3) it is possible to attain it by long deliberation while another man attains it quickly."
Aristotle is making the point that while some people may reach a correct decision or outcome after taking a long time to deliberate, this is not the ideal form of “excellence in deliberation.” The quality of deliberation he’s discussing is not just about getting to the right answer eventually, but about doing so efficiently and properly. Excellence in deliberation involves not only correctness in the result but also in the process, including the timing and manner of reaching that result. Taking too long to deliberate, even if the decision is ultimately correct, falls short of this ideal.
"Therefore in the former case we have not yet got excellence in deliberation, which is rightness with regard to the expedient-rightness in respect both of the end, the manner, and the time."
Aristotle is emphasizing that true excellence in deliberation is not simply about reaching a good result, but about achieving it through the right reasoning and process. It means not only aiming for the correct goal (the end) but also using the proper method (the manner) and doing so at the appropriate moment (the time). In other words, excellent deliberation is about making choices that are thoughtfully calibrated to align with these three aspects—goal, method, and timing—rather than just reaching the desired outcome by chance, faulty reasoning, or inefficient effort.
"(4) Further it is possible to have deliberated well either in the unqualified sense or with reference to a particular end."
Aristotle is pointing out that when we talk about "deliberating well" (thinking and reasoning effectively to make decisions), it can mean two different things:
1. In the unqualified sense: This is when someone deliberates well in a broad, general way, aiming for the ultimate or most important goal in life. In Aristotle's view, this ultimate goal is living a virtuous and fulfilling life—essentially, reaching eudaimonia (often translated as "happiness" or "flourishing"). Here, the excellence of deliberation is tied to achieving the highest good overall.
2. With reference to a particular end: This is when deliberation is focused on a specific, narrower goal. For example, someone might deliberate about how to save money, plan a journey, or resolve a particular problem. In this case, the "success" of deliberation is judged based on achieving that specific objective, rather than the broader concerns of life as a whole.
So, Aristotle is distinguishing between strategic reasoning aimed at overarching life goals versus tactical reasoning aimed at specific, smaller objectives. Both can involve “deliberating well,” but they operate on different levels of importance and focus.
"Excellence in deliberation in the unqualified sense, then, is that which succeeds with reference to what is the end in the unqualified sense, and excellence in deliberation in a particular sense is that which succeeds relatively to a particular end."
Aristotle is distinguishing two levels of what he calls "excellence in deliberation."
1. Excellence in the unqualified sense: This is deliberation that works toward the ultimate or highest goal, which Aristotle generally argues is the good or human flourishing (eudaimonia). In other words, this kind of deliberation focuses on choosing the best means to achieve the most fundamental or overarching purpose of life itself.
2. Excellence in a particular sense: Here, deliberation is successful in reaching a specific, narrower goal. These are more situational or task-oriented ends, focusing on a specific objective rather than the ultimate purpose. For example, figuring out the best way to save money for something you need is deliberation aimed at a specific, practical end.
Aristotle is emphasizing that excellence in deliberation can vary depending on whether one is aiming for life's overall purpose or more specific, individual objectives.
"If, then, it is characteristic of men of practical wisdom to have deliberated well, excellence in deliberation will be correctness with regard to what conduces to the end of which practical wisdom is the true apprehension."
This part is saying that people who possess practical wisdom (in Greek, phronesis) are those who are skilled at making good decisions through careful thinking and deliberation. In essence, "excellence in deliberation" means being able to think correctly, not just about random things, but specifically about the actions that will lead to a good and virtuous outcome. This "correctness" isn't random either—it ties closely to practical wisdom, which understands what is truly good in life and what the ultimate purpose or "end" (the goal) of human actions should be.
So, excellence in deliberation is a kind of correctness in reasoning that helps a person figure out the best way to achieve the right goal as understood by practical wisdom. It’s about knowing both what to aim for and how to get there intelligently.