In Books 1 & 2 of his treatise on ethics,
Aristotle expressed the idea that virtue was not so much a character trait as a skill.
He likens virtuous behavior to hitting a target with an arrow. Just as the swordsman has
to practice hitting the target over and over again to become proficient, so too does man
have to practice virtue repeatedly before getting good at it. Thus, the aim of virtuous
activity is to get better at doing virtuous things.
This
model works well the virtue of courage. According to Aristotle, the only way to develop
courage is to force yourself to do courageous things. At first, you may have a great
deal of fear and anxiety. You may not behave with valor and confidence. You may execute
your courageous act with timidity. However, as you continue to practice, you will get
better at behaving courageously.
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