ARISTOTLE’S NICOMACHEAN ETHICS BOOK 2 CHAPTER 4a
This is a popular rendition of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics for contemporary readers. Brief, understandable pieces with a short practice to integrate the wisdom into your life. No philosophical background necessary.
To become just, a person must do just things. And similarly with the rest of the virtues. To become kind, one does kind things. To become courageous a person must do courageous things. And so on.
This might sound confusing. You would probably think that if one does kind things, they do so because they already are a kind person. This is true, but it doesn’t prove that what I said is false. In other words, its true that a person with a virtue does actions in line with the virtue, but its also true that the way to acquire a virtue is via action, mainly by practicing the desired virtue.
Let’s look at the arts for an analogy. Doesn’t one become a better musician by being instructed and acting on the instructions of a master? And this makes them a better musician! This is a clear example of how when one does something skillfully yet without excellence, one acquires excellence in that art.
So by practicing the right way, we acquire the excellence we strive for.
To put it another way: if you want to acquire a virtue, you must act in line with that virtue and practice it. It won’t fall into your lap.
It’s not enough to just read.
Manifest this wisdom in your life by doing this practice, or it will slip through your fingers.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Choose well.
Practice:
Write down a virtue you aspire to
Write down an action that manifests said virtue. It must be easily achievable
Text a friend you plan to do said action in order to increase accountability
Just do it
Repeat
Fake it for its own sake and you will make it.