Like it or not.

We agree that our life is improved or damaged in two ways: By the things we abstain from and the things we choose to do. The things we chose are those we consider noble, things that are advantageous and things that bring enjoyment. Things we avoid are things that are undignified, that which causes injury and things that bring pain. Someone with good character will tend to get it right and bad men get it wrong. The biggest stumbling block is pleasure. Even animals choose what brings them the most pleasure. But there can also be pleasure in noble and advantageous things.  

Passions that have been formed from infancy are difficult to adjust. And we take action more or less by the rule of pleasure and pain. It is important to examine these because feeling delight and being pained by the correct things will affect the outcome of our actions. Virtue is affected by what gives us pleasure and what bothers us. The decisions made accordingly will either create or destroy the good in our lives. If actions are actualized by the right passions causing us to do the right things, we will bring increase and good to ourselves while enjoying it at the same time.

Doesn't it work this way with the arts? Even though a person is talented, he will need to learn grammar to use his skill in the best way possible. A lack of diligence in this area will cause him to fail while his talent will be actualized by paying attention to grammar. There is a difference, however, between actualizing art and virtue. What is produced by good art is good in itself; a song, poem or novel. But virtue isn't as evident. Performing a good act doesn't always mean the motive is good. There are conditions that have to be met. He must first have knowledge, secondly do it on purpose and thirdly the action must proceed from a firm and unchangeable character. An artist need only have the knowledge and skill to produce his product. Virtue has conditions that are more important than mere knowledge. Motive and consistency has to be at the core of our actions in order to have excellence of character.

How do we recognize proper actions? We make an association with our observations of others and the standard within us. When someone does something admirable it is pleasant for us and we want to have the same traits. So it takes observable actions and the right inner motives to produce acts that show good character. A just person will emulate justice and do what it takes to become better at it.

Most people, however, think because they have been taught theory and know what is right that it is enough and they are good by default. This is like a person who is advised to lose weight and exercise by his doctor yet does nothing. He obviously will not have an improvement in his health. In the same way, someone who follows this course in philosophy cannot be made well in his soul.