The Golden Mean according to Aristotle, he defines virtue as the mean between two extremes that need to be avoided. People develop certain characteristics over time, that seem to dictate how they deal with problems and issues in their lives. Aristotle’s ethics is centered at a person’s character, because by improving it, we also improve our virtues. People are taught morals and it is something that is passed down from generation to generation. Improving ones character can have a positive influence on other people as well as overall happiness.
Stories of virtues have been told as far back to Homer’s Odyssey, 2 it shows Odysseus’s struggle within himself to do what is right. Problem solving, endurance and self control are some examples of virtue for Odysseus’s. Even though he gave into temptation and succeeds in the end. In the Epic of Gilgamesh loyalty and trust are examples of virtue, Gilgamesh meets his friend Enkidu and an in the end he learns to become a better person.3
