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VOL. 2, ISSUE 1 (2026)
The place of Aristotle’s golden mean in the moral education of a learner
Authors
Ekok Agbor Emmanuel
Abstract
This article examines the critical role of Aristotle’s concept of the
Golden Mean in the moral education of learners. Grounded in Aristotelian virtue
ethics, the Golden Mean refers to the desirable middle ground between two
extremes—deficiency and excess—in human behavior, thought, and action.
Aristotle posited that virtues are not innate but are developed through
habituation, practical reasoning, and sustained moral practice (Aristotle, Nicomachean
Ethics). Moral education, broadly understood, refers to the processes through
which individuals acquire moral virtues, dispositions, and capacities for
ethical judgment. While traditional moral education often emphasizes rule-based
learning, the Aristotelian approach emphasizes character formation, habituation
of virtuous acts, and practical wisdom (phronesis). This article synthesizes
philosophical literature and educational theory to argue that the Golden Mean
provides a flexible, context-sensitive framework that supports the development
of balanced moral judgment in learners. Such a framework advances moral
education beyond rote moral instruction toward the cultivation of stable
character, reasoned choice, and human flourishing. The article concludes with
implications for contemporary moral education frameworks in formal school
settings.
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Pages:56-58
How to cite this article:
Ekok Agbor Emmanuel "The place of Aristotle’s golden mean in the moral education of a learner". International Journal of Advanced Education
, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 56-58
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