Aristotle and the Cultivation of Virtue

Aristotle emphasizes the importance of cultivating character to actualize one's potential and live a meaningful life. He introduces the idea of a 'virtual engine' of virtues that regulates and shapes self-improvement, leading to the realization of one's potential. Aristotle's concept of wisdom involves gaining the ability to cultivate virtues and develop this 'virtual engine'. He also highlights the deep form of foolishness that arises from a lack of character, termed 'acrasia', where individuals fail to do the right thing despite knowing what it is. This notion aligns with Plato's idea of structuring the psyche, but Aristotle provides a more thorough analysis of the structural and functional organization. According to Aristotle, foolishness is demonstrated when individuals know the right thing to do but still choose the wrong action, distinct from ignorance, which occurs when one does the wrong thing due to lack of knowledge.