Throughout history, philosophers have attempted to understand why people make certain decisions and what influences these choices. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aistotle explains his thoughts the battle between pain and pleasure and its relationship with virtue. Virtue, or moral excellence, gives equal consideration to both pain and pleasure. These feelings drive us to either commit base actions or noble actions, as well as deal with every emotion. Although some may be influenced by emotion to commit actions that result in the most pleasure, a morally excellent individual will establish a medium between pain and pleasure. Aristotle explains that the thought of the “good” or “bad” consequences that arise from a decision will influence how one will…show more content… These consequences either produce pain or pleasure based upon the action (1104b. 3-4). Aristotle promotes a happy medium in which people are self-controlled and can balance both extremes of a situation. He even goes so far to state that “moral excellence” is achieved through staying at this medium between pleasure and pain because it is “pleasure that makes us do base actions and pain that keeps us from doing noble actions” (1104b. 10-11). The story of Odysseus clearly displays Aristotle’s medium as he returns home to Ithaca. Odysseus could have arrived enraged and killed all of the suitors immediately in order to pursue pleasure, or he could have gone to the other extreme and cowered with Calypso for the rest of his life in fear that Penelope has moved onto another husband. Contrary to both, he finds a happy medium by risking the journey back in hope of pleasure, but also tests Penelope and surveys the landscape in preparation of pain. In this situation Odysseus achieved “moral excellence” in the way that all people should, in that he analyzed both his emotions and actions, which surround the idea of
