PHIL10101 Lecture 8: notes 4.11
Document Summary
No, we cant choose whether or not we feel passion. Aristotle notices that states of character are destroyed by excess and deficiency and are made best when they lie in a mean between two extremes- have to have moderation, don"t go to extremes. One of aristotle"s central insights: we habituate ourselves to virtue by pursuing an intermediate course between the extremes of excess and deficiency. According to aristotle, virtue is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean . Hitting a bulls eye vices are excesses and deficiencies of particular characteristics. Some things are always wrong no matter how theyre done. Some virtues don"t lie exactly in the middle. Sometimes you have to go to the opposite extreme to reach the mean. Ex: if youre a coward need to be very brave to reach the mean. Aristotle vs kant round 2: human nature and acting from habit.