On Phronesis and Mesotes in <i>Nicomachean Ethics</i>

亚里士多德认为，人的终极目的是幸福，也即是灵魂的一种合于完满德性的实现活动。为了认识并最终实现这种幸福，亚里士多德分别从理论维度和实践维度出发，通过理智德性和道德德性对幸福进行追问。理智德性中的努斯和智慧能够认识幸福并指导人们做出明智的考虑以及适当的选择，而适度作为道德德性的本质，则是明智在具体的实践活动中的投射。因此，明智和适度即是理智德性和道德德性的纽带，将二者联系起来，共同完成了对幸福的认识和实现。Aristotle posits that the ultimate aim of human life is happiness, which is the realization of the soul’s activity in accordance with perfect virtue. To understand and ultimately achieve this happiness, Aristotle approaches it from both theoretical and practical dimensions, inquiring into happiness through intellectual virtue and moral virtue. In intellectual virtue, nous and sophia enable the recognition of happiness and guide individuals to make prudent considerations and appropriate choices. Meanwhile, mesotes, as the essence of moral virtue, represents the manifestation of phronesis in concrete practical activities. Therefore, phronesis and mesotes serve as the bridge connecting intellectual virtue and moral virtue, linking the two together and collectively accomplishing the understanding and realization of happiness.