How Can I Do the Right Thing?

Understanding goodness: Aristotle, virtue ethics, and moral balance.

Reviewed by Lybi Ma

When we try to act morally, we often feel lost, as if goodness is an abstract concept outside of ourselves, something we must chase. It seems like a distant ideal—an external entity we need to conform to, bending ourselves to meet its standards. But is goodness really something we find out about outside of ourselves, or does it come from within?

The Internal Source of Goodness

Aristotle’s virtue ethics suggests that goodness is not something external, but rather it stems from our own character. He argued that "excellence is what we repeatedly do"—it's a habit formed through our actions (Nicomachean Ethics, II). To live a good life means to cultivate virtues within ourselves. It’s not about obeying external rules or societal expectations, but about developing moral habits that align with our purpose. Just as a plant’s purpose is to grow and bear fruit, human beings have a purpose: to live a flourishing life, which Aristotle calls eudaimonia.

Aristotle’s virtue ethics encourages us to look inward and find a way to use our phronesis, that is our reason that can discern what's the right thing to do in the given moment. Accordingly, a virtuous person will appropriately respond to complex moral situations based on their practical reason. The key to moral behavior lies in nurturing our virtues—our courage, temperance, and wisdom—until they become second nature. This ongoing process is central to achieving eudaimonia—not just being good in isolated moments but building a flourishing life of sustained moral excellence.

A Good Exercise

Aristotle wasn’t alone in emphasizing self-reflection as part of moral growth. Stoicism proposed a form of eudaimonic virtue ethics that echoed similar ideas. They suggested a very wise trick to check with ourselves about how to overcome certain challenging situations or personal flaws. Since our lives may not be thrilling or full of new experiences every day, often we are faced with the same challenges and problems repeatedly. However, if we take time at the end of each day to reflect on what we did we can better prepare ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead. By reflecting on our actions, we gain insight into how to handle similar situations with greater wisdom and effectiveness in the future. Hence, we can ask ourselves these three simple questions: What did I do well? What did I do wrong? What can I improve? This practice of guided reflection allows us to learn from our experiences, refine our virtues, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

Stoicism, similar to Aristotle’s ethics, recognizes that life presents us with recurring challenges. We face the same frustrations and obstacles daily, whether it’s an annoying habit, a difficult person, or a task we struggle to complete. By consistently reflecting on how we handle these challenges, we can make small improvements that add up over time.

The Golden Mean: Avoiding Extremes

In addition to guided reflection, another valuable tool philosophy offers for improving our decision-making and problem-solving skills is the concept of the “Golden Mean.” This principle encourages us to avoid extremes in our actions and to seek balance, ensuring that we choose the most wise and moderate course of action in any given situation. Moral excellence, according to Aristotle, is found not in taking extreme measures but in finding a balanced approach. He used the example of courage: the Golden Mean lies between recklessness (an excess of courage) and cowardice (a deficiency of it).

Imagine witnessing a couple arguing in public. One extreme reaction might be to intervene forcefully, escalating the situation, while the other extreme would be to ignore it altogether. The balanced approach, Aristotle would argue, lies somewhere in the middle—perhaps in alerting someone who has the authority to help or simply standing by to make sure the situation doesn’t worsen. By avoiding extreme responses, we find the moderate, virtuous path.

The Societal Challenge of Virtue Ethics

While Aristotle’s virtue ethics focuses on personal moral development, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations. Virtue ethics, as Aristotle envisioned it, is closely tied to the values of the society in which we live. What is considered virtuous depends on the moral fabric of that society. In a morally corrupt society, it can be difficult to discern what is truly good.

The horrors of totalitarian regimes, such as the Holocaust, are tragic examples of this problem. In such societies, obedience to immoral orders was seen as virtuous. Under these circumstances, even the natural goals of individuals can become obscured. It’s in these situations that we must make an extra effort to connect with our internal sense of goodness and resist being swayed by external forces.

Trusting Our Feelings

One of the most profound aspects of Aristotle’s ethics is the relationship between feelings, virtues, and actions. While societal norms influence us, Aristotle believed that our emotions are vital tools in helping us recognize what is morally right. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth pausing to consider whether it aligns with our internal sense of virtue and check our psychological disposition in response to that feeling.

In some cases, society might suggest that certain behaviors are “good,” but if they conflict with our feelings or instincts, we need to trust ourselves. For Aristotle, emotions are not separate from virtue—they are interconnected. Virtue is the appropriate psychological disposition we need to take in response to certain feelings. By honing our virtues, we learn to know what emotions to trust as guides in navigating complex moral dilemmas.

Conclusion: Becoming Better Each Day

Aristotle’s virtue ethics reminds us that goodness is not an external ideal to chase but something we cultivate within ourselves. He offers us a toolkit that includes developing good habits, practicing the Golden Mean, and recognizing the important role that feelings and emotions play in our lives. By developing good habits, reflecting on our actions, and finding balance in how we approach life’s challenges, we can grow morally. This process offers valuable tools for self-improvement: reflection, moderation, and trust in our inner virtues.