Aristotle's Ethics

Aristotle made note (and Plato agreed) that moral virtue is about the exercise of control over natural feelings, and that good values is indicated through the use of good judgment in finding an effective balance between extremes. Aristotle thus had a personal value of moderation.

VICE (Defect)	VIRTUE (Mean)	VICE (Excess)
Cowardice (too little confidence)	Courage	Rashness (too much confidence)
Foolhardiness (too little fear)	Courage	Cowardice (too much fear)
Insensibility (too little pleasure)	Temperance	Self-indulgence (too much pleasure)
Meanness or Stinginess (too little giving)	Liberality	Prodigality or Wastefulness (too much giving)
Niggardliness (in giving out large sums of money)	Magnificence	Tastlessness and Vulgarity (giving out large sums)
Undue Humility (too little honor)	Proper Pride	Empty Vanity (too much honor)
Inirascibility (too little anger)	Good Temper	Irascible (too much anger)
Shamelessness (too little shame)	Modesty	Bashfulness (too much shame)
Surliness	Friendliness	Flattery

So what?

If you want to be like Aristotle, be moderate. More generally, moderation is a pretty good guide to acceptable behavior.

Aristotle's Ethics

So what?

See also