The Ethics of Temperance and Desire: Navigating the Inner Landscape

Summary: This article explores the profound ethical interplay between temperance and desire, drawing insights from the Great Books of the Western World. It argues that temperance, far from being mere denial, is a crucial virtue that enables us to manage our desires wisely, preventing them from becoming vices that lead to imbalance and suffering. By cultivating temperance, we align our actions with reason, fostering personal flourishing and a more harmonious life.

Unpacking the Human Condition: Desire's Allure and Temperance's Guide

Hello, fellow seekers! Chloe Fitzgerald here, diving into a topic as ancient as philosophy itself, yet as relevant as our latest craving: the intricate dance between desire and temperance. In an age brimming with instant gratification and endless stimuli, understanding how to navigate our internal landscape of wants and needs isn't just an academic exercise – it's essential for a well-lived life. The wisdom embedded in the Great Books of the Western World offers us invaluable compasses for this journey.

The Philosophical Foundations: Temperance as a Cornerstone Virtue

From the ancient Greeks onwards, philosophers have grappled with the power of human desire. They recognized that while desires are natural and necessary for life, unbridled pursuit of them often leads to chaos, both internally and externally. This is where temperance (Greek: sophrosyne) enters the stage as a cardinal virtue.

Plato's Harmonious Soul:
In Plato's Republic, we encounter the famous analogy of the charioteer. The soul is likened to a chariot drawn by two horses: one noble and spirited (representing thumos or spirit), and the other unruly and driven by base appetites (representing epithymia or desire). The charioteer, representing reason (logos), must skillfully guide both horses. Temperance, in this scheme, is the harmonious cooperation of all parts of the soul, where reason is in control, ensuring that desires serve the higher good of the individual and the polis. Without temperance, the unruly horse of desire drags the chariot wherever it pleases, leading to discord and unhappiness.

Aristotle's Golden Mean:
Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, presents temperance as a prime example of the Golden Mean. For Aristotle, virtue lies between two extremes: excess and deficiency. When it comes to pleasure and pain, the temperate person finds the right balance, neither indulging excessively nor denying themselves entirely. They take pleasure in the right things, at the right time, and in the right measure. Desire, therefore, is not inherently bad; it's the management of desire that determines whether it manifests as a virtue or a vice.

  • Excess (Vice): Self-indulgence, gluttony, hedonism
  • Deficiency (Vice): Insensibility, asceticism (in its extreme, unreasoned form)
  • Mean (Virtue): Temperance, moderation, self-control

Understanding Desire: Friend, Foe, or Neutral Force?

Our desires are the engine of our actions, driving us towards food, companionship, knowledge, and purpose. But what kind of desires are truly beneficial, and which lead us astray?

Philosophical Perspectives on Desire:

| Philosopher/School | View on Desire
| Plato | Sophia (wisdom), Thumos (spirit), Epithymia (desire) controlled by reason. |
| Aristotle | Eudaimonia (human flourishing) achieved through virtuous activity, where desires are managed by reason.

Video by: The School of Life

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