Aristotle Book 6

Nota:

• The mean and Virtues of Thought

1. The Mean

   Nota:

   • In between "excess" and "deficiency"  -not too little, not too much
   1. the correct reason
2. Parts of The Soul

   Nota:

   • Virtues of character and virtues of thought 
   1. Reason
      1. scientific
      2. rationally calculating/deliberating
   2. nonrational

Nota:

• Thought, desire, and decision 

1. three capacities in soul
   1. sense perception
   2. Understanding
   3. Desire
      1. Deliberative desire

         Nota:

         • Decision is a deliberative desire "Desire" you pursue something you want based on decisions 
         • If your decision is good, then your reasoning and desire must be good. What you think through that you want determines what "desire pursues" 
      2. Thought/truth concerned with action
         1. Thought

            Nota:

            • Can be good or bad 
         2. Truth

            Nota:

            • Can be bad. Truth is according to whatever an individual person thinks. 
            • When you agree with what you want to pursue, you determine what you think is the right action
            1. Truth=Function of each of understanding parts

               Nota:

               • Virtues of each part will be the states that best direct it towards the truth
   4. Action
      1. Principle=decision
         1. requires
            1. understanding

               Nota:

               • Decision can be understanding combined with desire
            2. thought

               Nota:

               • Decision can be desire combined with thought.  OR understanding combined with desire
               1. goal oriented thought

                  Nota:

                  • Goal oriented thought concerned with action. You are productive 
                  1. unqualified goal

                     Nota:

                     • It is NOT the product. What we achieve in action. Aims at a further goal 
                     1. achieved in action
                     2. not the product
                        1. ex: What we achieve in action
            3. state of character

               Nota:

               • Acting well/badly requires thought and character 
         2. Deliberate about the future