Aristotle's Virtues

I.  Defining Virtue in General

Virtue = a means between two extremes, an excess and a defect, with respect to a particular action or emotion.

 

II.  Defining Specific Virtues

1. Courage is a means between the extremes of cowardice and foolhardiness with respect to the emotion of fear

2. Temperance is a means between the the extremes of self-indulgence and insensibility with respect to the desire for pleasures of the body (eating, drinking, sex).

3. Generosity (or liberality) is a means between the extremes of  extravagance and stinginess with respect to the giving away and taking in of money.  [an extravagant person is excessive in giving away , but defective in taking in money; a stingy person is defective in giving away money, but excessive in taking in it].

4. Pride is a means between the extremes of vanity and excessive humility with respect to ones desire to receive great honors.

5. Good temper is a means between the extremes of irascibility (or irritability) and apathy with respect to ones proneness to anger.

6. Truthfulness is a means between the extremes of boastfulness and self-deprecation with respect to the way one presents oneself to others.

7. Wittiness is a means between the buffoonery and boorishness with respect to ones desire to amuse others.

8. Friendliness is a means between obsequiousness (e.g., being overly deferential/groveling) and unpleasantness with respect to the desire to please others.

9. Modesty is a means between the extremes of bashfulness and shamelessness with respect to one's susceptibility to shame.

10. Righteous indignation is a means between envy and spite with respect to the pleasure and pain that one feels at the fortunes of one's neighbors  [e.g., One who is righteously indignant is pained by the undeserved good/bad fortune of others, but is pleased by the deserved good/bad fortune of others;  the envious person is pained good fortune of others, whether deserved or not; the spiteful person feels pleasure at the bad fortune of others, whether they deserve it or not]

III.  An Overview of the Virtues