The Golden Mean

     

    Chapter 8 speaks to Aristotle’s philosophy as including a “mean between extremes” (p. 158). Remember mathematically, the mean refers to the middle or halfway point of a range of numbers. Aristotle’s oft overlooked and terribly underappreciated point of the Golden Mean may indeed be a guide to the near paradoxical (contradictory) aspects of the ethical dilemmas found in the Pandemic World.

    According to Aristotles Ethical Doctrine of the Mean, when ethical values are projected well, they are able to strike a balance, making them advantageous.

    Aristotle noted that, in nature, most things tended toward the mean (middle). Trees of a type grew to approximately the same size, as did species. Predatory animals kill just enough to survive and raise their young. Prey animals do not overpopulate an areas ability to survive their grazing. Remember the word “ecosystem” from grade school? Ecosystems maintain a healthy balance by finding a middle road.

    Perhaps people can as well.

    Aristotles Concept of the Golden Mean

    Deficiency (-)

    BALANCE

    Excess (+)

    cowardice

    stinginess/miserliness

    sloth

    humility

    secrecy

    moroseness

    quarrelsomeness

    self-indulgence

    apathy

    indecisiveness

    COURAGE

    GENEROSITY

    AMBITION

    MODESTY

    HONESTY

    GOOD HUMOR

    FRIENDSHIP

    TEMPERANCE

    COMPOSURE

    SELF CONTROL

    rashness

    extravagance

    greed

    pride

    loquacity

    absurdity

    flattery

    insensibility

    irritability

    impulsiveness

    Determine your Golden Mean.

    Include the following aspects in the assignment:

     Create a simple chart as shown above

     Develop a list of five characteristics that you feel fall into the deficiency or excess columns

     Find your balance trait

     Briefly, write how you may develop your balance trait

     Use synonym and antonym lists to assist you. Try to avoid those listed. Consider first which traits you think are faults and work from there

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