Excellence

In the last book, Aristotle explained that it is best to find happiness within ourselves over all external goods and pleasures. External things can add to personal happiness but cannot replace it. Happiness of the soul originates in the irrational part of our soul where our emotions also reside. We might call this area today our "heart". The rational part of our soul, our mind, participates in happiness but more in an organizational sense. Since these overlap, we shouldn’t get caught up in specific boundaries but names make it easier to study the general areas. There are principles that guide our hearts and they steer us toward doing what is best. There is also a natural tendency that steers toward things that are contrary to what is right. Those who don’t manage it have a hard time finding happiness.  Virtue is using every area of the soul at its best. When we do this we are happy. Happiness itself is sought above anything we can acquire and it originates from excellence of the soul. This excellence isn’t a comparison to other people but it is using what we have within ourselves to its greatest potential. Keeping away from comparisons yet excelling at what we do best, brings the most satisfaction to our lives.

To excel in the arena of the mind, it takes teaching and absorbing material. It also requires experience. Excellence of the heart requires forming good habits. This doesn't come naturally. Improvements are contrary to nature in the same way that gardening requires tending. It is in human nature to want improvement. Neglect might seem natural but it doesn't satisfy this desire for better things. Passions and desires may reside our hearts, but it takes diligence to steer them in the right direction. This is key to having good character.

There are natural things we have such as sight that just work well without much effort. Virtue however has to be exercised. Musicians and builders have to practice their skill until it is second nature to them in much the same way. We become just by doing just acts and temperate by doing temperate acts. Just think what it would be like to have entire communities based on excellence of character. It should always be the purpose of every legislation and law to improve on this.

Many musicians and builders have natural talent but they still have to practice their skills to avoid being sloppy and neglectful of their talents. It is the same for moral excellence. By facing fears we become brave and by purposing to be just in our transactions, we become just. This builds confidence in us and makes it a lifestyle. If we avoid dealing with things, our passions and appetites can get away from us. A temperate person will behave in a way that is appropriate for the circumstance. In order to have certain character traits, a person has to act accordingly. It takes diligence to continue having the right responses. These habits are easiest to form when we are young therefore raising our youth properly is important. But everyone has room for maintenance and improvement. 

This might seem basic but it is important to have clarity on the subject matter before we move on to what acts are best for given situations. There are many variables involved but we want to leave theoretical discussions behind and get into situations and behaviors. Next we will examine what is commonly called the doctrine of the mean. We will see that right and wrong are more of a matter of keeping out of the extremes of defect and excess for particular behaviors and situations.