Temperance, Not as Discussed by Aristotle

As is his wont in dealing with most of the human characteristics, Aristotle puts ‘temperance’ in the list of virtues. According to Aristotle, temperance is a mean that is related to physical pleasures. He argues that an intemperate man desires pleasurable things and the reason is pleasure that he derives from them. If his desires are not met, he is pained. His reason dictates him to such pleasures. The virtue of temperance maintains harmony between desiring part of the soul and reason.

One can very easily bow before the master if one does not deeply scrutinize the lines. Aristotle analyses temperance as a mean in regard to physical pleasures. I believe that physical pleasures are also developed after long conditioning and the circumstances we are born in. Degree of temperance, if I view it scientifically, varies from person to person and situation to situation. He argues that an intemperate man desires pleasurable things but who decides what is pleasurable and what is not. Of course, in this case, as the master suggests, the experience is the sole judge. I would like to analyze this very so called virtue from the angle of reasoning. What his or her reason tells is more important to me before coming to the conclusion whether the person is intemperate or not. There may be many other reasons for being intemperate which might not be in regard to bodily pleasures.

When the master says ‘temperance keeps the desiring part of the soul in harmony with reason’, it leads to further inquiry of a very different kind. What is that desiring part of the soul, and what is the criteria of a particular person’s reason? They are to be explored, understood, and analyzed.

When you say soul, it is related to metaphysical aspect of human existence and it is not related to the bodily pleasure, and so is reasoning. A slight addition could present it more clearly: our non physical aspects guide and control our physical senses. But it is not always the case because I see many hermits and sages meditating for months and years, and in spite of pains and physical troubles they are never intemperate.