The "Golden Mean" is the idea that there is a balance to everything, with that said, Aristotle believed that virtues are a mean between excess and deficiency. Without the "Golden Mean" it is impossible to attain happiness. Living in this way allows "us to live in accordance with our nature, to improve our character, to better deal with the inevitable hardships of life and to strive for the good of the whole, not just of the individual." Finding this mean is an act of discernment. In every situation there are numerous possible actions to take, but the wise, virtuous, person always discerns the single right one. It may be easier to take the other road, after all there are many more options, however, that person will not know the happiness or contentment of the "Golden Mean" given that they have chosen towards one extreme or the other.
More on the "Golden Mean" here: http://www.anus.com/zine/articles/draugdur/golden_mean/
No comments:
Post a Comment