The Golden Mean of Aristotle

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The Golden Mean or the Golden Middle way of Aristotle can be defined as the enviable middle between two extremes. The following are the virtues and their accompanying virtues (Table 1). Too Little Virtuous Mean Too Much Humbleness High-mindedness Vainglory Lack of Purpose Right Ambition Over-ambition Spiritlessness Good Temper Irascibility Rudeness Civility Obsequiousness Cowardice Courage Rashness Insensibility Self-control Intemperance Sarcasm Sincerity Boastfulness Boorishness Humour Buffoonery Shamelessness Modesty Shyness Callousness Just resentment Spitefulness Pettiness Generosity Vulgarity Meanness liberty Wastefulness People would blame you if you take money that is not yours. In the same way, if one does something virtuous, then the world will praise them. According to Aristotle, only if a person acts voluntarily, then only that particular person deserves blame or praise because then only that person can take the responsibility for what he has done. For him, one must met the following conditions to be morally responsible for an action. The person must be in control of their actions A person should be aware of what they are doing/ be conscious It is immoral to force a person to perform a particular action. Suppose someone is forced to steal money and he is being held at gunpoint, none could blame him for doing that act, as his action was not in control of his conscious. People are not blamed for doing something, which you are not conscious of.

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