BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
1
'Moral virtue, like the arts, is acquired by the repetition of the corresponding acts.'
There are two kinds of virtue; intellectual and moral. Intellectual comes from learning, moral from habit and practice.
Man isn't born moral or immoral, but has the capacity to develop moral virtue.
The senses are given to us by nature; i.e. we have the a
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
2
'These acts cannot be prescribed exactly, but must avoid excess and defect.'
Ethics is of practical importance too, as we're interested in how to become good men as well as the nature of goodness. Important, therefore, to look at the problems with right and wrong actions.
Moral qualities can be destroyed by excess of deficit - thi
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
3
'Pleasure in doing various acts is a sign that the virtuous disposition has been acquired: a variety of considerations show the essential connection of moral virtue with pleasure and pain.'
The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain are the main causes of evil action, for pleasure can make men do base things and pain can deter them from doing noble things. This is why Plato said that right education is a matter of making men feel plea
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
4
'An object to the view that one acquires virtues by doing virtuous acts; and a reply: the conditions needed to possess virtue and act from it.'
A virtuous act is not virtuous only because it is an act of a certain quality or kind. The agent or doer of a virtuous act must also be in a certain frame of mind and have certain characteristics when he acts. There are three conditions required; (a) that
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
5
'The genus of moral virtue: it is a state of character, not a passion, nor a capacity.'
Since the human soul is conditioned by three factors � emotions (feelings), capacities, and dispositions (characteristics) � it is evident that virtue must be one of these.
Virtue is something for which men are called good or bad or for which they are pra
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
6
'The differentia of moral virtue: it is a disposition to choose the 'intermediate'. Two kinds of intermediate distinguished.'
Every virtue influences or affects that of which it is the virtue in two ways; (a) it produces a good state in it, (b) it enables it to perform its function well (e.g., the virtue of the eye makes both the eye and its function good, for good sight is due
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
7
'The above proposition illustrated by reference to particular virtues.'
In the study of morality particular statements often come closer to the truth than generalizations. This is because human behavior is made up of many individual actions, with all of which any theory of human behavior must harmonise.
With fear and confiden
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
8
'The extremes are opposed to each other and to the mean.'
The two extreme states (excess and deficiency) are opposed to each other and also to the middle state or mean. The mean, while opposed to both extremes, may be considered excessive in regard to deficiency and deficient in regard to excess.
In some cases o
BOOK TWO: MORAL VIRTUE
9
'The mean is hard to attain, and is grasped by perception, not by reasoning.'
Moral virtue is a mean.
It is a mean between two vices, one marked by excess and the other by deficiency.
It is a mean in the sense that it aims at the middle point in emotions and actions.
Avoid the extreme most opposed to the mean for which you are seek