The Golden Mean
Aristotle conceived of virtue as a balance between two extremes. For example, the virtue of generosity is defined as the correct balance between wastefulness and stinginess. Courage is a balance between confidence and fear. Phronesis, or practical wisdom, involves knowing how to apply the virtues in specific contexts. Phronesis and the virtues of character are connected in such a way that one cannot possess any developed virtues without possessing all the others....