Aristotle set himself the task of identifying the factors that lead people to have a good life or not. He suggested that good and successful people all possess distinct virtues, and propose that we should get better at identifying what these are so that we can nurture them in ourselves and honor them in others. Aristotle zeroed in on 11 virtues, courage, temperance, liberality, magnificence, magnanimity, pride, patience, truthfulness, wittiness, friendliness, modesty.
Aristotle also observed that every virtue seems to be bang in the middle of two vices. It occupies what he termed the golden mean between two extremes of character. For example, in book four of his ethics, under the charming title of conversational virtues, with buffoonery and boorishness, Aristotle looks at ways people are better or worse at conversation. Knowing how to have a good conversation is one of the key ingredients of the good life Aristotle recognized. Some people go wrong, because they lack a subtle sense of humor. That's the bore someone useless for any kind of social intercourse because he contributes nothing and takes offense at everything. But others carry humor to access.
The buffoon cannot resist a joke, sparing neither himself nor anybody else, provided that he can raise a laugh and saying things that amount of tastes would never dream of saying. So the virtuous person is in the golden mean in this area, witty, but tactful is a particularly fascinating moment is when Aristotle draws up a table of too little too much and just right around the whole host of virtues. We can't change our behavior in any of these areas immediately. But change is possible. Eventually, moral goodness says Aristotle is the result of habit. It takes time, practice encouragement. So Aristotle thinks people who lack virtue should be understood as unfortunate rather than wicked. What they need isn't scolding or being thrown into prison, but better teachers and more guidance.
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