Take a good look at ancient Greek philosophers and philosophies and you may find much of interest. For us, we find it to be another strong link in the chain of wisdom traditions spanning the ages. The word philosophy means love of wisdom, so many religions, sciences, arts, and other paths have contributed much to the wealth of human experience and history. In particular here, is the focus on human virtues, or as we like to call them; Super Powers.
Plato had a short list of four virtues, those being courage, justice, prudence, and temperance. Although a good start, we went to the other extreme with sixty examples on our list in the Super Powers Sanity File, so you can imagine we were pleasantly surprised to find such a comprehensive study done by Aristotle in the following chart. We like the broad view Aristotle takes as he shows us not only how to live, but how not to. We don't expect anyone to accept it verbatim, but it certainly is food for thought.
|
SPHERE OF ACTION OR FEELING |
EXCESS |
MEAN |
DEFICIENCY |
|
Fear and Confidence |
Rashness |
Courage |
Cowardice |
|
Pleasure and Pain |
Degenerate/Self-indulgence |
Temperance |
Insensibility |
|
Getting and Spending(minor) |
Extravagant/Lavish |
Generosity |
Illiberality/Meanness |
|
Getting and Spending(major) |
Vulgarity/Tastelessness |
Magnificence |
Pettiness/Stinginess |
|
Honor and Dishonor(major) |
Vanity |
Magnanimity/Generosity |
Timid/Cowardly |
|
Honor and Dishonor(minor) |
Ambition/Empty Vanity |
Proper ambition/pride |
Laziness/undue humility |
|
Anger |
Irritable/Angry |
Patience/Good temper |
Lack of spirit |
|
Self-expression |
Boastfulness |
Truthfulness |
Understatement/mock modesty |
|
Conversation |
Buffoonery |
Wittiness |
Boorishness |
|
Social Conduct |
Servile |
Friendliness |
Irritable |
|
Shame |
Shyness |
Modesty |
Shamelessness |
|
Indignation |
Envy |
Righteous Indignation |
Malicious enjoyment/Spitefulness |