The Virtuous Man

The virtuous man aims for moderation in all traits of his character, being careful not to have to much or too little. Aristotle calls this moderate state the "mean." The virtuous man is not expected to walk this fine line precisely, but will sometimes be on one side of it or the other. He should be able to recognize his course and correct it toward the center when necessary.

This mean is not the same for all men, however, and the virtuous man must have the ability to know the best course for himself. This ability Aristotle calls prudence. Prudence relies on reason and understanding, and for this reason, the virtuous man must have these traits.

The virtuous man must also have a good character, which will allow him to properly apply reason to determine the prudent path for his life. Character is developed from a...