In Nicomachean Ethics 2.6 Aristotle says that moral virtue…is a disposition to choose the mean. He
later defines virtue more fully in that section
First Part: What does Aristotle mean when he says that moral virtue is a disposition to choose the
mean, and that such a choice should imply a rational principle? To answer this question, you should:
Explain/reconstruct Aristotles doctrine of the mean as it applies to a moral virtue.
Briefly explain/reconstruct the distinction Aristotle draws between merely happening to act
virtuously in an accidental way, and actually carrying out an act in a virtuous way on purpose that
implies a rational principle.
o Remember to provide an example or examples of moral virtue(s).
Second Part: Why does having this disposition require that we not only exercise the virtues, but that
we exercise them as virtuous people would? To answer this question, you should:
Explain/reconstruct the way in which Aristotle believes the virtuous person carries out an action.
This involves doing the following three things. In doing these three things, utilizing the example
used in the previous part of your reconstruction would be helpful:
o Explain his claim that virtue and vice are states of characters arising from the cultivation of
habits.
o Explain his claim concerning the connection between pleasure and pain and virtue. What
sort of pleasure or pain does a virtuous person feel or not feel in acting virtuously?
o Explain the type of knowledge Aristotle thinks the virtuous person has.
Third Part (Analysis): In this part, youll evaluate Aristotles arguments about what virtue is. These
questions might help guide your evaluation, but you definitely wont answer them all; theyre to get
you thinking:
Do you think Aristotle gives good reasons for claiming that virtue is a disposition, and to have that
disposition requires we exercise it?
Do you think Aristotle gives good reasons for claiming that virtue involves choosing the mean in a
habitual way?
Are there counterexamples to his claim that virtue involves a disposition, knowledge, and feeling
the right sort of things? In other words, can someone be a virtuous person without satisfying the
conditions Aristotle gives for virtue?
Do the specific examples he uses to establish his general conclusion actually support it or are they
too specific and cant be generalized?
Is there an objection to his argument Aristotle doesnt consider; can that objection be answered or
does it show his argument doesnt work?
In reconstructing arguments, be sure to not only state the conclusion, but also explain the reasons the
author offers in favor of their conclusion. Provide textual evidence for youre the claims you make
about the argument. In general, up to 2/3, but no more and sometimes less of your paper will be
devoted to reconstructing the argument you evaluate.
Separate your reconstruction and your analysis/evaluation. Doing your reconstruction of the
arguments youre engaging first will provide you a clearer target for evaluation.
Note that the prompt already follows this format.
In evaluating an argument, be explicit about what you think is weak or strong in the argument and
why. You should also be sensitive to reasonable rejoinders to your criticisms (as much as space
allows). That is, think about whether or not the author has a possible response to your criticism. In
general, at least a third of your paper should evaluate the argument(s) you reconstructed.
