Aristotle says that a
moral virtue is a 'mean between two vices'. What are some illustrations?
In Book II of the Nicomachean
Ethics, Aristotle gives us a definition of the nature of moral virtue as a state
that is divisible and continuous. His view is surprisingly relativistic and
perhaps paves the way for the more individually-focused philosophies articulated
by the Stoics. He also illustrates an example where the ‘mean between two vices’
(the vices of defect and excess) do not exactly follow a mathematical
proportion: “if then pounds is too much for a particular person to eat and two
too little, it does not follow that the trainer will order six pounds” because
this may also be too much or too little for a specific person (1106b). It is
important to exercise some pragmatic decision making when trying to remain in
the virtuous, intermediate state.
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