Explain the concept of the Golden Mean in ancient philosophy.

Ancient Philosophy Questions



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Explain the concept of the Golden Mean in ancient philosophy.

The concept of the Golden Mean in ancient philosophy refers to the idea of finding a balance or moderation between extremes. It was first introduced by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who believed that virtue lies between two vices. According to Aristotle, every virtue is the mean between two vices – one of excess and one of deficiency. For example, courage is the virtue that lies between the vices of recklessness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency). The Golden Mean suggests that the path to living a virtuous life is to find the right balance between extremes, avoiding both excess and deficiency.