We are not Virtuous by Nature

I've decided to read on Aristotle required by our ethics teacher. As the title states that "We are not Virtuous by Nature" explains how being virtuous can be trained. By doing the same virtuous act it becomes second nature to us and we begin to internalize this and it becomes us.

Virtue of Character in General is the virtue of thought and character.

Virtue of thought- grows from teaching and needs experience and time

Virtue of Character- results from habit

By repeating what we do character is formed.

For example: You become a harpist if you continually play the harp.

You become a mediator if you always meditate.

The right source of habituation must avoid excess and deficiency.

Virtue is in correlation with pleasure and pain.

A virtue is a mean.

Mean is in between excess and deficiency.

Here are examples of such:

(Taken from https://www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/class/300/virtues.html ).

Desire                          || Vice of Deficiency | Virtuous Mean | Vice of Excess

1. Fear of danger         || Cowardice                 Courage                       Rashness

2. Pleasure                   || Insensibility              Temperance                 Over-indulgence

3. Small giving            || Stinginess                  Generosity                   Extravagance

4. Great giving            || Pettiness                    Magnanimity               Vulgarity

5. Honors                     || Timidity                    Self-confidence           Conceit

6. Achievement           || Under-ambition        Proper ambition          Over-ambition

7. Anger                       || Impassivity              Good temper               Ill temper

8. Truth                        || False modesty          Truthfulness                Boastfulness

9. Amusement             || Humorlessness         Wittiness                     Buffoonery

10. Social life              || Unfriendliness          Friendliness                 Flattery

11. Fear of disgrace    || Shamelessness          Proper shame             Excessive shame

12. Resent injustice    || Malice                       Righteous indignation Envy