The philosophy of virtues underlies many complexities, and so is the definition. Broadly virtues can be defined as ideal characteristics or traits usually derived from natural tendencies that require nurturing. Once virtues are established in and individual they become stable. According to Plato's ethics, he considered a virtue to be an excellence of the soul. It is a disposition that is fully entrenched in the possessor. Plato believes that the soul has several components, and thus there will be several components of excellence (Marmysz, 2012). Virtues enable the harmonious functioning of the several components of the soul. Plato believes that justice is inseparable from the virtues, and it depends upon the presence of natural order that governs the soul components into a harmonious whole. Plato's ideas are more of mythos because of the complexity in beliefs of what virtues should be. Plato believed to possess a virtue an individual had to have a complex mindset; thus it would be wrong to attribute a virtue to a single action. The mindset should totally accept certain considerations as reason for actions (Marmysz, 2012).
Aristotle argued that the distinctive function of humans is reasoning and the only life worth living is one that people reason well. Virtues enable human beings to flourish thereby perform their unique functions well. They help them to decisions based on reason and to control their emotions. According to Aristotle, virtue is not a disposition; it is a teleological system that is actions oriented. Aristotle identified happiness as the ultimate goal that governs people's actions, and it can only be achieved by acting in accordance with reason. Aristotle's theory of virtues compares to Plato's theories because argue that humans aim to achieve a certain desirable state through their actions and virtues are a means achieving (Marmysz, 2012).
References
Marmysz, J. (2012). The path of philosophy: Truth, wonder, and distress. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
