A Lush or a Prude

Here is a summary of the next section in Ethics book 2

We want to avoid making an exercise in dogma by putting labels on people. But we are interested in improving ourselves. So rather than presenting theories, we will examine actions. How does a person bring himself to do what is right? We don’t form good character by agreement with others, but good character is the sum of a person’s actions. The fact there is right and wrong rules that we all ascribe to is a given. How these apply to everyday situations will be discussed later.

It is important to understand that there are so many situations and exceptions that we can’t address them all. People are unique and they have different needs and applications for virtue, in much the same way individual needs would vary concerning health issues. Even navigation depends on where a person is before giving them directions. It is the same way with virtue.

There is a uniform rule that applies to these things. Health, strength and virtue are destroyed by access and defect. Strength and health are affected negatively by too much food while too little food also has a diverse affect. Too much exercise or too little exercise can have the same effect on the body, either injury or apathy. But the right amount not only brings health, but it brings increase to us. It works the same way with virtue; A person who runs away is a coward while a person who is reckless is considered rash. A man who indulges in every pleasure is self-indulgent while someone who shuns every pleasure is a Prude. Preservation and increase all come somewhere in between. So how do we find this middle ground and how do we keep ourselves there? Next time…