ARISTOTLE’S GOLDEN MEAN: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR CONTEMPORARY TIMES
Terzungwe Inja 1
Desmond Iorliam Agernor 2
Department of Philosophy, Benue State University, Makurdi 1 & 2
Corresponding Email: tinja@bsum.edu.ng 1
Abstract
This work was intended to answer a simple question, “Is the Aristotelian golden mean still relevant today?” The question is based on the fact that today’s society seems totally different from what was obtained when this classical theory was propounded over 5000 years ago. Again, interest in the question was derived from a desire to join forces with other pro-Aristotle scholars to conduct further tests on his notion of the golden mean. With that purpose in mind, the study examines Aristotle’s golden mean in the light of contemporary ethical issues. It has been found capable of providing ethical guidance in several aspects of modern-day life. These include (but not limited to) such areas as artificial intelligence, environmental ethics, work-place ethics, politics, warfare, and psychotherapy. The paper concludes that the golden mean is still relevant, even in today’s societal sophistication and complexities.
Keywords: Aristotle, Golden Mean, Applicability, Virtue Ethics, Applied Ethics.
