Are all moral qualities means between extremes?
By Eric Doyle Knight <frruita@hotmail.com>
Aristotle's doctrine of the mean dictates that concepts can be observed and rated on a continuum. It maintains that the mean between two extrenmes of something tends to be the best level of a concept.
Take the concept of courage for example. Where does one find "courage"? On a continuum, one extreme would be total lack of courage - cowardice -, and the other extreme would be total courage without reason whatsoever - rashness. Aristotle would say one finds appropriate "courage" as the mean level of this continuum. This can be seen in other concepts as well: loyalty as a mean between treacherousness and blind devotion; industriousness as a mean between lassitude and work-aholism.
This would seem to be a sound way of quantifying ethical concepts. However, it begs questioning. I have a problem with the idea of defining "good" as cinching life and experience inward to a comfortable middle-ground of moderation and mediocrity. Is there then no validity in living extreme experiences? Is there no "good" in pushing the envelope of experince in one's life? Should one not explore extreme levels of being?
Perhaps we could apply the doctrine of the mean to this problem. Can we dictate that one should experience extremes in moderation, such that one could find a mean between dullness and all-consuming loss of control? Is this a contradiction: experience extremes in moderation? And again, can there be no validity to the loss of control itself?
These are difficult questions. And to tell the truth, I'm not sure what the answers should be. But I do think the questions warrant asking. And that the asking itself is valid.To submit a comment, click here.
Amanda Thompson <amandat211@yahoo.com>I really enjoyed your paper. good use of examples. this was a tough topic and your illustrated your point well.
Heather Ferguson <AddysmomF@netscape.net>Good Paper!
Will Mulkey <wrmulkey@hotmail.com>Very interesting questions. I agree they would be difficult to answer. Good paper!
Eric Howell <grayghost13@hotmail.com>Nice work! I really agree that the questions must be asked. Excellent Job!
Karen <karen_long@email.com>I only got a few hours of sleep last night and all the words blurred together. As far as I couls tell, you did good.
Matt Wright <surfski8@hotmail.com>good paper
Kimberly Pitts <KLP103@hotmail>Interesting points! I enjoyed reading your paper.
Jason Stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>This was one of the best papers that I have read this semester. Good job, very enjoyable!
missy kergosien <missc4@hotmail.com>Interesting paper!
Comments Closed <12.05.01>Further comments are voluntary.