Aristotle – Virtue Ethics, Practical Wisdom & Good Governance
Golden Mean · Character & Habits · Justice · Practical Wisdom · Citizenship & Public Service
1. Aristotle in Ethics & Governance – Why He Matters
Aristotle (384–322 BCE), student of Plato, grounded ethics in character, habits and rational judgement. Instead of abstract ideals, he focused on how real people can become good by practising virtues in daily life. This makes his approach especially useful for public servants who must take decisions under pressure and in complex situations.
| Aspect | Aristotle’s Focus | Governance Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | Building virtuous character through habits | Stable integrity and reliable behaviour in officials |
| Decision-Making | Practical wisdom (phronesis) | Context-sensitive, mature administrative judgement |
| Justice | Distributive & corrective justice | Fair distribution of benefits, grievance redressal |
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2. Virtue Ethics – Ethics as Character, Not Just Rules
Aristotle defines virtue as a state of character concerned with choice, guided by reason. Being ethical is not only about following rules but about becoming a certain kind of person: calm, fair, truthful, courageous and disciplined.
| Component | Meaning in Aristotle | Public Service Link |
|---|---|---|
| State of Character | Stable disposition, not one-off acts | Consistent integrity beyond symbolic gestures |
| Choice | Deliberate, reasoned action | Conscious ethical decisions in dilemmas |
| Guided by Reason | Rational assessment of good & bad | Evidence-based, non-arbitrary governance |
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For administrators, virtue ethics highlights the need to build ethical habits over time, rather than relying only on external rules and laws.
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3. Golden Mean – Balance Between Extremes
Aristotle’s famous doctrine of the Golden Mean says that virtue lies between two vices: one of excess and one of deficiency. The “mean” is not a strict average, but the right amount for the right person in the right situation.
| Deficiency (Too Little) | Virtue (Golden Mean) | Excess (Too Much) |
|---|---|---|
| Cowardice | Courage | Rashness |
| Insensibility | Temperance | Self-Indulgence |
| Stinginess | Generosity | Extravagance |
| Subservience | Assertiveness | Aggressiveness |
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In public service, this supports balanced behaviour: courage without recklessness, firmness without cruelty, transparency without irresponsibly revealing sensitive information.
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4. Habituation – Ethics as a Practised Skill
Aristotle insists that we become virtuous by doing virtuous acts repeatedly. Ethics is like a craft or skill: one learns it by practice, imitation and reflection, not just by reading books.
How Virtue is Built
- Repeated honest decisions
- Daily fairness in small matters
- Consistent respect for rules
- Learning from virtuous role models
Implications for Civil Servants
- Integrity strengthened with every honest choice
- Corruption often starts as “small compromises”
- Ethical culture grows through everyday conduct
- Training must include practice, not only lectures
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This directly supports concepts like ethical work culture, value-based organisations and the role of leadership as moral exemplar.
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5. Practical Wisdom (Phronesis) – Core Virtue of Administrators
Aristotle distinguishes between theoretical wisdom (knowing universal truths) and practical wisdom (phronesis), which is the ability to decide correctly in concrete situations. Practical wisdom is the central virtue of leaders and civil servants.
| Type of Wisdom | Nature | Example in Governance |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Wisdom (Sophia) | Understanding principles, theories, concepts | Knowing laws, policies, economic theories |
| Practical Wisdom (Phronesis) | Choosing right action in specific context | Balancing law, equity & public interest in a crisis |
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In case studies, phronesis is the basis for balanced decisions that respect rules, protect rights and still achieve effective outcomes.
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6. Moral Responsibility – Voluntary & Involuntary Actions
Aristotle explains moral responsibility by analysing why people act. Ethics must examine whether an act was voluntary, involuntary or non-voluntary to judge accountability.
| Type of Action | Meaning | Ethical Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary | Done knowingly & freely | Full moral responsibility (e.g., corruption) |
| Involuntary | Due to coercion or unavoidable ignorance | Partial or no responsibility |
| Non-Voluntary | Done unknowingly; regret after awareness | Needs correction & learning |
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This classification helps administrators judge intent, pressure, and culpability in ethical dilemmas or disciplinary cases.
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7. Aristotle’s Theory of Justice – Foundation for Fair Governance
Aristotle identifies three kinds of justice, each with a modern parallel in public administration.
| Type of Justice | Meaning | Governance Link |
|---|---|---|
| Distributive | Fair allocation of benefits & burdens | Welfare schemes, subsidies, resource allocation |
| Corrective | Correcting wrongs between individuals | Grievance redressal, compensation, penalties |
| Political (Legal) | Justice through law, equality & rights | Rule of law, constitutional morality |
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This triad is excellent for writing structured answers on welfare, fairness, grievance handling and overall administrative justice.
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8. Citizenship & Good Governance
Aristotle famously called humans “political animals” because they achieve their highest potential only in a well-governed community. Good governance must nurture virtue in citizens.
- Active citizenship → participation & responsibility
- Rule of law → backbone of political justice
- Education → development of civic virtue
- Leaders → moral role models
- Common good → priority over private interest
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9. Aristotle & Public Service Values
| Value | Aristotelian Basis | Administrative Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity | Stable virtuous character | Honesty in all decisions |
| Temperance | Control over passions | Resisting greed, anger, misuse of power |
| Courage | Golden mean between fear & rashness | Taking tough but just decisions |
| Justice | Fairness & equity | Transparent and proportional decisions |
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10. Critical Evaluation of Aristotle
Strengths
- Practical and realistic
- Focus on character-building
- Supports modern values like integrity & EI
- Promotes balanced judgement
Limitations
- Golden Mean can be subjective
- Requires long-term moral training
- Lacks strict rules for urgent crises
- Elitist view of citizenship
These points help create a balanced answer in UPSC-style questions.
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11. One-Page Aristotle Concept Map
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12. SMART SUMMARY – Quick Revision Table
| Theme | Essence |
|---|---|
| Virtue | Ethical character shaped by habits & reason |
| Golden Mean | Balance between excess & deficiency |
| Practical Wisdom | Context-based moral judgement |
| Justice | Distributive, corrective & political fairness |
| Governance | Virtuous leaders, moral citizens, rule of law |
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13. Practice Questions
1. Explain the relevance of Aristotle’s concept of the Golden Mean to ethical leadership in public administration.
2. “Virtue is a habit.” Discuss Aristotle’s argument in light of ethical behaviour in civil services.
3. Differentiate between distributive and corrective justice with examples from governance.
4. What is practical wisdom (phronesis)? Why does Aristotle consider it essential for ethical decision-making?
5. Critically analyse Aristotle’s virtue ethics as a tool for curbing corruption in public life.
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