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Single Idea 80

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / a. Practical reason]

Full Idea

Virtue ensures the correctness of the end at which we aim, and prudence that of the means towards it.

Clarification

'Prudence' is Greek word 'phronesis', for which the translation 'practical reason' is nowadays preferred

Gist of Idea

Virtue ensures that we have correct aims, and prudence that we have correct means of achieving them

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1144a07)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.222


A Reaction

I'm not wholly clear about how virtue identifies correct aims. Virtue finds the mean, but how? Prudence is busy with strategy. Theoretical reason stands back from the world. A gap in the theory?