Unit II
Goal: To experiment with Aristotle’s concept of the Golden Mean by observing, adjusting, and systematically improving your own behavior over the course of a week.
Instructions:
1. Pick a Trait.
Choose one of Aristotle’s ethical traits (e.g., courage, generosity, patience, humility, honesty, ambition, self-control, etc.). Pick one where you suspect you tend toward either excess or deficiency.
2. Observe Yourself.
For 2–3 days, notice when and how this trait shows up in your life. Are you acting too boldly? Too timidly? Too indulgently? Not indulgent enough? Keep a short journal with at least two entries per day.
3. Aim for the Mean.
For the next few days, make small but intentional efforts to adjust your behavior toward the mean—the balanced, virtuous point between extremes. Try to notice how different choices affect your sense of composure, success, or regret.
4. Investigate and Iterate.
Be a student of yourself.
Set a goal related to your chosen trait. For example: “I want to speak up twice this week in situations where I normally wouldn’t.”
Make a plan. Think ahead about moments where the trait might be tested. How might you respond differently? Rehearse if it helps.
Experiment. Test out strategies. Change your environment, set reminders, or use other behavioral hacks.
Take notes. What worked? What didn’t? Were there moments where you slipped? Why? What might help next time?
This is the "research and investigation" portion of your ethical practice—where you don’t just reflect, but actively troubleshoot your moral habits.
5. Reflect.
Ask yourself:
Why you chose this trait
What you noticed about your habits
What you tried and how it went
What you learned from your self-investigation
Whether Aristotle’s approach felt useful, and why or why not
Submission Requirements
Your submission should demonstrate thoughtfulness, real engagement with the material, and a clear effort to practice Aristotle’s ethical method in your daily life. You may submit in either written form (1000–1500 words) or as a video log (8–10 minutes total).
If Writing:
Your written reflection should be well-organized and include the following clearly labeled sections:
1. Chosen Trait & Aristotle’s Framing
State the trait you’re working with.
Briefly define the two extremes (excess and deficiency) according to Aristotle.
Why did you choose this trait?
2. Observations
Log at least 4 moments over 2–3 days where this trait came up.
What did you notice about your default reactions?
Did your behavior tend toward one extreme?
3. Ethical Experimentation
Describe your plan for aiming toward the mean.
Include your goal, strategies, and any tools or “hacks” you used.
Log at least 3 examples of you actively trying to shift your behavior.
Note successes, struggles, and surprises.
4. Research & Investigation
What worked and what didn’t?
What environmental or emotional triggers influenced you?
Did you adapt your plan during the week?
Share at least one insight you gained from tracking your efforts.
5. Final Reflection
Do you think this trait is now closer to the mean?
Did the method feel sustainable?
What’s your takeaway about virtue, habit, and change?
Would you use this kind of ethical practice again?
If Submitting a Video Log:
Record short video clips over the course of the week (you can stitch them together or record one final reflection that summarizes everything). Your final video submission should:
Clearly state the trait and extremes you’re working with.
Include at least 3 self-observation reflections from early in the week.
Show or describe your plan of action and moments of “in the field” application.
Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how you adapted.
End with a personal reflection on Aristotle’s method and its usefulness.
Tips:
Speak conversationally. You’re not being graded on production quality—just clarity and sincerity.
You may use slides, images, or journaling pages if you’d like to include those visually.
Supplemental Material
The following should (hopefully) help you complete this assignment (and perhaps even become part of your daily routine).
Purpose:
The tracker below is a tool to help you bring Aristotle’s ethics into daily life by becoming more aware of your behavior, identifying your tendencies toward excess or deficiency, and adjusting your actions to move closer to the Golden Mean.
How to Use This Tool:
Set Your Focus.
Trait: Choose one ethical trait to develop (e.g., courage, patience, honesty).
Extremes: Define the two extremes for this trait—what does too much look like? What does too little look like?
Mean: In your own words, describe what “right-sized” behavior would look like.
Goal: Write a concrete, measurable goal for the week. For example: “I will pause and breathe before responding in at least two stressful conversations.”
Daily Observation (Morning or Evening).
Each day, reflect on key moments when this trait came into play. Note:The situation or trigger. What was happening?
Your reaction. What did you say, feel, or do?
Which extreme it resembled. Were you too harsh, too passive, too indulgent?
Correction attempt. Did you try to adjust in real time?
Notes. Use this space to capture emotions, patterns, successes, or setbacks.
Spot Patterns.
As the week progresses, look for trends. Are certain contexts or times of day harder? Do specific people or environments bring out certain extremes? Use this awareness to adjust your strategy.Measure Movement Toward the Mean.
Mark or highlight any day where:You paused and acted with intention.
You successfully adjusted your behavior toward the mean.
You noticed a recurring obstacle you’d like to plan around tomorrow.
End-of-Week Wrap-Up.
Before completing your final reflection or video log:Review the entire week.
Identify what helped you move toward virtue.
Note setbacks or triggers that need more attention.
Consider whether this habit tracker was a helpful structure—and if you’d want to keep using it with other traits.
Use this tracker to document your week of ethical self-observation and experimentation. Record your reactions, analyze patterns, and reflect on strategies for living more virtuously. Here's a preview of what it looks like:
| Date | Situation | Your Reaction | Was it Excess, Deficiency, or Balanced? | Planned Adjustment | Notes / Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Insert Date] | [Briefly describe the context where the trait was challenged] | [What did you do or feel?] | [Excess / Deficiency / Balanced] | [What could you try next time?] | [How did it feel? What did you learn?] |
| [Insert Date] | [Another situation] | [Reaction] | [Assessment] | [Adjustment] | [Reflection] |
How to Use This Table
Day: Track each of the 7 days of your practice.
Context / Situation: Briefly describe a real moment when your chosen trait was tested.
My Response: What did you actually do or say?
Did I Tend Toward Excess or Deficiency?: Use Aristotle’s framing—were you too indulgent, too timid, too reactive?
Adjustment Strategy Tried: If this was a day of experimentation, note what tactic you used (e.g., a script, mental rehearsal, deep breath, journaling before action).
What Happened?: Was the strategy effective? Did you feel different after trying it?
Next Step / Reflection: Write down any insight, adaptation, or intention for tomorrow. This is part of your self-investigation.
