1. Temperance
is the mean between indulging and restraining from pleasure. (Book III: 10 pg.
45)
a. Overindulgence
in bodily pleasure is considered intemperate as well as the pain felt from
restraining.
2. Abstaining
from pleasure does not constitute temperance (Book III: 11 pg. 47)
a. A
temperate person feels no pain towards abstaining from overindulging in
pleasure.
b. We
are considered brave for withstanding the passions although it causes pain to
do so.
3. Absences
of pleasure is not the deficient but insensibility (Book III: 11;7)
a. Insensibility
being the inability to feel pleasure or the lack of awareness to what acts are
pleasing
b. Pleasures
are natural part of human life one cannot abstain from all pleasure.
c. There
is usually a preference to taste of food and drink and sexual partner.
4.
Only when practicing moderation is this
virtue achieved. (Book III: 11; 8)
a. The
constant practice grows into learned behavior habit develops and then the
activity becomes the norm. If one learns and constantly practice pleasure in
moderation temperance behavior is established. If the characteristic is
consistent throughout life temperance is refined.
b. Actions
adept in moderation preserve the character from developing habits of
intemperance.
c. Vicious
or licentious habits can cause unfavorable confines towards reaching a virtuous
character.
5. A
temperate person is not overwhelmed with restraint
a. Pleasure
partaking occur in the right amount, at the right time for the right
reason
b. Only
the pleasure occurring from satisfying vital need is accepted
6. Deeds
that are perceived poorly by peers are judged accordingly.
7. Self-indulgence
it does not affect the whole body but parts. Pleasures of the soul are not
considered temperate or intemperate. (Book III: 10; 2)
a. Indulging
in Arts are not considered excess
8. Pleasures
must be correctly balanced per individual need and aimed towards happiness
(absolute end). (Book: III 12; 8-9)
a. The
amount of excess or deficiency is not collective but exclusive to each
individual vital needs and unique preference.
9. Our
habits ultimately dictate weather we are considered temperate or intemperate.
a. Uncontrolled
desires towards bodily pleasure increases the desire for the pleasure
i.
Indulging just for the sake of
indulgence breeds a deeper desire.
ii.
Practicing moderation constructs a
temperate characteristic.
10. Achieving a temperate character maintains the
harmony of the body and rational soul.
a. Only
when all virtues are expressed can one be viewed as achieving happiness.
1. b. Temperance/self-control is a mean in regard to sensual pleasures (i.e., taste, touch, eating, and drinking).
ReplyDelete2. c. In issues with relevance to pleasure the temperate man observes the mean. He does not enjoy what is most pleasant to the intemperance and feels no pain, or only to a moderate extent, when his appetites are unfulfilled. He desires only pleasures that are within his means, similar in temperament with nobility and which be a factor to his health and well-being.
3. d. The virtue of self-control has to do with that part of human nature examples are food, drink, and sex. These fundamentals each have an appropriate purpose to carry out and so long as it is kept under proper control it makes a valuable contribution to the good life.
Because over-indulgence is often pleasurable at the moment there is a natural tendency to allow them to be carried to an excess. When this happens we have a vice instead of a virtue. The same thing occurs when through some form of asceticism or kindred motivation the appetites are limited to less than their proper function in relation to life as a whole.
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ReplyDeleteTemperance is a virtue I think all should strive to achieve.I believe that all people are born with some of the characteristics of most of the virtues Aristotle mentions in his book. However, temperance is one of the many virtues that i believe is key to a better world, society, and community. If people began to practice temperance purely for the pleasure of the soul then they can teacher others the way to living well and doing by simply balancing their rational and irrational knowledge. When people began to realize that over indulging is not healthy then, that may begin to create a path to practicing and achieving other virtues, so that everyone can truly "Live well and do well." For temperance may not only be the key to living well and doing well it may be the gateway to a refined life.
DeleteTemperance is a mean concerned with pleasures as
Deletewe have read.For the Greeks temperance is the right
desire to consume the right amountand also to know what is the right amount. Temperance is also considered as a mean between gluttony and starvation.
One who is temperant must have self control.
Self control in what way? I agree with Shadia whe she mentions temperance is the key to a better society and community.By saying this I mean learning to share what you have, weather it is knowledge or or food, just assisting an elderly by walking them to the door. Just to name a few.
Lets take food for instance,Some peolpe rather through away food or overeat when they have excess food rather than sharing it with the homeless or the needy.
When we say temperance as having self control I believe this is something we should learn in our daily lifes, it can even go as far as shopping for things people don't need.For example we buy something because it's on sale, Do we really need it when there are ten of the exact items is in the closet or pantry?
Again this is when we should exercise temperence.
Who determines what is right? We sould really take a closer look at ourselves, our life in general and exercise temperance.
1. Regarding the virtues, there are many ways to fail but only one way to succeed.
ReplyDeletea. Overindulgence in bodily pleasure is considered intemperate.
b. Rejecting all pleasures is considered deficient.
c. Temperance is the mean between indulgence and restraint with regard to the sensual pleasures.
I think 2b should be removed. Bravery is irrelavent in supporting the conclusion for temperance. I would offer this replacement:
2b. A person who abstains from overindulging in pleasures yet feels great pain in doing so is not
temperate because his desires are excessive.
3c. i. Some preferances are acceptable in moderation.
ii. Some preferances are unacceptable in any amount.
Premis 4a. could be subdivided.
4a. Temperance, through habitation, develops from an act into a behavioral norm.
i. If one learns and constantly practices pleasure in moderation, temperant behavior will be
established.
ii. If the characteristic is consistent throughout life, temperance will be refined.
4d. Because developing temperance takes time, it is important to begin learning moderation as a
youth.
8b. The virtue's mean is not a mathematical mean.
i. A mean must be determined for each individual situation.
ii. Some means fall more toward exess, others are found closer to deficiency.
Premis 10 can stand on it's own, 10a is not necessary.
To live and be well are considered aspects of achieving the absolute end; happiness. Being or becoming temperate is an important step to gaining said happiness. One mustn't desire for anything more he/she knows will ultimately satisfy them. Once you form the habit of practicing temperance it may then become the norm for you. All in moderation of course. Knowing one's own limit is key. Overindulging in anything takes away from this practice and I believe this outline hit those key points. I feel the author could have put a few more quotes into her own words a bit more (implicit), otherwise, the corrections/suggestions above would be irrelevent. I got it overall, and is that not the point?
ReplyDelete3b. I do agree that pleasure is a natural part of human life but then again he/she should have some kind of self control and abstain from doing these excessive appetites and desires. Though it is very tempting and the pleasure is there they should have some type of control and say NO. Being able to restrain from certain pleasures you have to be able and wiling to set aside and give up these things that makes you crave. For instance, look at the people who are fasting, though its hard they willingly abstain from all foods, drinks and sex for a defined period.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this blog post, I strongly agreed with this argument. One point which stood out the most for me was the notion that “only when practicing moderation is [temperance] achieved”. When reading more in depth, the comment reflecting the idea of learned behavior becoming habits was something I thought to be true as well. As Shadia pointed out, if people practice temperance then they can teach others to do so. Humans are extremely susceptible to actions of others. From the very moment we are born, we begin to model behaviors of others. The idea of “social modeling” is a relevant topic when discussing how a person practices moderation to achieve temperance. As discussed in class, there are two factors for a mean. These factors include a social model and an individual component. Touching on only the first factor, a social model, there has to be a consensus of a person who is thought to be virtuous. Once that person is chosen, others can view the actions of them and begin to act/behave as that person. Human nature revolves around the idea of evolving into something better. Through actions, habits are formed. Habits then become our character. The more temperance is practiced, the more one becomes temperate and thus able to achieve this virtuous state.