Study On The Thought Of Aristotle's Practical Wisdom

As an important topic in Aristotle's ethical system, practical wisdom has great significance for the aim of forming individual excellence and stabilizing polis' order. Ancient Greek philosophers, earlier than Aristotle, entered into the study of creation of virtue by analyzing reason and desire. Discussion on reason and desire, among the school of Philosophers, Socrates and Plato, provided a theoretical headspring for establishing Aristotle's idea of practical wisdom, which is reasoning ability to moral practice. Defining of practical wisdom can make itself fully understand in the relationship between it and theoretical reason, and its' status in nous. Practical wisdom behaves to commanding on feeling in moral activities. In the form of rational activities of understanding and deliberation, practical wisdom can make a proper judgment on particular things in choice, according with the mean. Practical wisdom plays an important role in polis living, and embodies the spirit of the mean in Aristotle's political theory. Moreover justice of law and polis cannot live without function of practical wisdom. The Good is the end required by practical wisdom, which is perfection of individual virtue and prosperity of whole polis. Our study on Aristotle' idea of practical wisdom is helpful for us thoroughly comprehending his moral philosophy and his influence on modern ethical theory.