Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean: A Critique of Two Readings and a New Interpretation

Aristotle’s theory of the Mean plays a significant role in his ethical system. The theory appears in the second book of Nichomachian ethics. The most prevalent reading of theory is that Aristotle tries to provide an action guide for moral agents to determine the most appropriate and right decision in different and problematic circumstances. More than 15 critics are presented in this article about this interpretation. Because of the criticisms of this kind, some moral philosopher have offered a second reading according to which Aristotle’s does not aim to offer an action guide, rather his main purpose is conceptual and analytical analysis of virtue to understand the exact meaning of moral virtue and to distinguish it from other excellences. This idea is also criticized. At the end, a new interpretation is offered: Aristotle neither wants to give an action guide nor to offer a method for analyzing the virtue, but his theory is just a sign of his support of situation ethics, according to which it is impossible to present a general and valid rule by which the agent can distinguish the right decision in different circumstances. Rather, each situation has its own characteristics, and the moral agent must be trained in such a way that he can consider these different aspects and avoid falling into the trap of extremism.