Aristotle (384-322 B.C)

Aristotle would say that people who do malicious acts are not doing them because they think they are okay, they know what they are doing self desires take over and they do what can make them happy. This happiness is not the same as Aristotle’s “reason for every final cause” but rather the pleasure at that moment in time that will bring that person happiness.

“A mean is the midpoint between two other points. On a line, it is the exact middle. Aristotle characterized moral virtue as a mean between too little and too much. In his terms, the mean is located between deficiency and excess.” As Soccio puts it, on page 190. Aristotle stresses the idea that every virtue has a mean. Our goal should be to have all of our virtue at or as close to the mean as possible. For example a virtue of generosity could have a line graph like: one side of the line is “too generous” and the other side of the line is “selfish.” Our goal is to be in the middle of those two extremes and to simply be generous. Another example of a virtue is courage. One side of the line could be a coward the other side could be to brave (rashness). Again, our goal should be to be in the middle or be right at the mean of the line of virtues. To sum up, Aristotle would say the mean is a good thing and not a mediocre, should not be avoided but rather we should strive to reach it.
C| Aristotle would completely agree with the statement that human essence is connected to virtue. He later go as far to say that it is virtues that perfect our essence. Aristotle had two separate categories for virtues: Practical Virtues and Intellectual Virtues. Practical virtues are the action of something while intellectual virtues are those of the mind. Practical virtues include, but are not limited to, courage, generosity temperance, and mildness. Intellectual Virtues can be broken into two more subcategories: Phronesis and Sophia. Phronesis is practical wisdom. Aristotle explains that this is the best thing to do in a situation. Sophia, on the other hand, is the thirst of wanting to increase one’s knowledge base, it also opens up the mind of the individual.
D| Aristotle would say that running away from danger is a cowardly act. Aristotle him self says, “As a rock on the seashore he standeth firm, and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him not. He raiseth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of fortune drop at his feet. In the instant of danger, the courage of his heart sustaineth him; and the steadiness of his mind beareth him out.”