VERITAS ET MISERICORDIA

DEVELOPING ETHICS:THE WAY TO

VIRTUE
 MODULE LESSON
What is judged to be good are actions. But these are actions
that are done voluntarily or out of your own freedom and
knowledge of what you are doing. And if you act upon these
chosen actions, this is what makes your character. As the
saying goes, “you are, what you do.” Hence, a consistent
state of character is what you call virtue. For Aristotle,
Virtue involves striking a mean between extremes of action
and passion or what he calls “vices”. Excess is having too
much of something. While deficiency, on the other hand, is
having to little of something. To strike the mean is not
mediocrity but attainment of harmony and balance.
 Deficiency VIRTUE Excess
Cowardice COURAGE Rashness
Self-indulgent TEMPERANCE Anhedonic
(drunken, glutton, (healthy moderation) (incapable of
promiscuous) enjoying pleasure)

Cheapness GENEROSITY Wastefulness

Self-Shame, PROPER PRIDE Arrogance, Vanity

Servility (& high ambition) (bloated self-
(low self-esteem) esteem)

covetous, FAIR-MINDEDNESS Altruistic

dominator
 MODULE ACTIVITY 1
Rate yourself if you are excessive, deficient, or
virtuous by putting a check mark in the box of
each row. If you answer excessive or deficient,
make some plan of action that would make you
virtuous. If you answer virtuous, write down
the things that you do to justify your answer.
 Deficiency VIRTUE Excess Plan of Action
Cowardice COURAGE Rashness

Self-indulgent TEMPERANCE Anhedonic

(drunken, (healthy (incapable of
glutton, moderation) enjoying
promiscuous) pleasure)

Cheapness GENEROSITY Wastefulness

Self-Shame, PROPER PRIDE Arrogance,

Servility (& high ambition) Vanity
(low self- (bloated self-
esteem) esteem)

covetous, FAIR- Altruistic

dominator MINDEDNESS