Aristotle -Nicomachean Ethics

In Book II of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle tries to define virtue through the concept of the mean, or intermediate point, where virtue lies somewhere between two extremes. Virtue is excellence, not mediocrity. The quarterback’s virtue enables him to throw an excellent pass, although to do this he mustn’t throw short of his wide receiver or overthrow the ball at any time, but hit the point in between. Similarly, although virtue is concerned with …

…virtue can be represented as a mean, or perhaps some of them pertain to practical wisdom rather than to moral virtue. Elsewhere (1105 a28-35) he says that an act does not come from moral virtue unless it is chosen for its own sake, not for an ulterior purpose such as avoiding punishment. This, I feel is an important point that is not clearly covered by the conception of virtue as a mean between two extremes.