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In examining the virtues essential for living a flourishing life from an Aristotelian perspective, two virtues that stand out as fundamentally important are temperance and courage. These virtues not only align with Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean but also serve as pivotal qualities enabling individuals to achieve eudaimonia—the highest well-being or flourishing—by fulfilling vital human goods such as self-control, safety, and moral integrity.
Temperance, often associated with moderation, is vital for regulating pleasures and desires that might otherwise lead individuals astray from rational and moral living. Aristotle regards temperance as a virtue that allows a person to enjoy bodily pleasures—such as food, drink, and sex—without overindulgence. It fulfills the human good of harmony and self-control, affirming that happiness arises from moderation. For example, a temperate person enjoys a good meal but does not overeat or become gluttonous. In contrast, a lacking of temperance manifests as overindulgence, which can lead to health issues, moral weakness, or social disapproval. An individual who neglects temperance might indulge excessively in alcohol, leading to impaired judgment and personal and social decline.
Courage is another cardinal virtue in Aristotle's framework, especially pertinent to facing fears and risks in pursuit of noble aims. Courage enables individuals to stand firm in adversity, uphold justice, and pursue worthy goals despite potential dangers. It contributes to the human good of moral strength and integrity. A courageous person may stand up for a colleague experiencing injustice, risking social or personal repercussions. Conversely, a cowardly individual avoids confrontation or risk, thereby shirking moral responsibility. For example, lacking courage might manifest in succumbing to peer pressure to act unjustly or refusing to defend one's principles when under threat.
These examples support Aristotle’s idea that virtues lie at a mean between two extremes—excess and defect. Temperance’s excess is self-indulgence, while deficiency is insensitivity or insensibility to pleasure. Courage’s excess manifests as foolhardiness, risking life or limb without proper caution, whereas deficiency is cowardice—a debilitating fear that prevents action even when necessary.
In conclusion, temperance and courage exemplify virtues that promote human flourishing by enabling the fulfillment of key goods—self-control, safety, moral strength—which constitute the foundation of a good life. Their manifestation through balanced behavior aligns with Aristotle's doctrine that virtue is a mean, emphasizing moderation and appropriate response to circumstances to achieve eudaimonia.
References
Aristotle. (2009). Nicomachean Ethics (W. D. Ross, Trans.). Batoche Books.
Hursthouse, R. (1999). On Virtue Ethics. Oxford University Press.
Nehamas, A. (1998). The Art of Living: Socratic Reflections from Plato to Foucault. University of California Press.
Annas, J. (2011). The Morality of Happiness: Subsequent Writings. Oxford University Press. Taylor, G. (2006). Aristotle and the Philosophy of Virtue. Oxford University Press.
MacIntyre, A. (2007). After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory. University of Notre Dame Press. Kraut, R. (2018). Aristotle on the Human Good. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Gill, N. (2002). An Introduction to Ethics. Cambridge University Press. Hare, R. M. (2014). The Language of Morals. Oxford University Press. Schwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. HarperCollins.
