Aristotle places the concept of arete—often translated as “excellence” or “virtue”—at the center of his ethical philosophy. For Aristotle, arete is not a vague ideal or a trait one either has or lacks; it is a quality developed through deliberate practice that enables a person to fulfill their true nature. Understanding arete is essential to understanding Aristotle’s broader vision of what it means to live well.
In Aristotle’s view, everything has a purpose, or telos, and its excellence lies in fulfilling that purpose effectively. A knife’s arete is its sharpness; a horse’s arete is its strength and speed. For human beings, whose distinctive feature is rationality, arete involves the excellent use of reason. This means living thoughtfully, making sound decisions, and acting in ways that reflect both intelligence and moral integrity. Arete, then, is not just about what we do, but how well we do it in accordance with our nature.
Aristotle distinguishes between two kinds of virtue: intellectual and moral. Intellectual virtues, such as wisdom and understanding, are developed through teaching and experience. Moral virtues, such as courage, temperance, and justice, are cultivated through habit. This emphasis on habit is crucial. Aristotle argues that we are not born virtuous; instead, we become virtuous by repeatedly performing virtuous actions. In this sense, arete is not static—it is something we actively build over time through consistent effort.
A key feature of arete in Aristotle’s ethics is the idea of the “mean.” Virtue lies between extremes of excess and deficiency. Courage, for example, is the mean between recklessness and cowardice. This does not mean that virtue is merely moderation in all things, but rather that it requires sensitivity to context and the ability to judge what is appropriate in each situation. Achieving arete therefore demands practical wisdom, or phronesis, which allows individuals to discern the right course of action.
Arete is also closely tied to Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia, often translated as flourishing or well-being. For Aristotle, the ultimate goal of life is not pleasure or wealth, but eudaimonia—and this can only be achieved through the exercise of virtue. In other words, living excellently is not just a means to happiness; it is what happiness consists in. A person who embodies arete lives a life of purpose, balance, and fulfillment.