It funny how classics we hated to read in college come back to haunt us with truths again and again.
Aristotle was an extremely astute person, and the older one gets, the more truth one finds in his writing. However, his line of reasoning appears, presumably independently, in Buddhism, “The doctrine of the middle way”, and the teachings of Confucius, “The doctrine of the mean”.(1) The application of these doctrines are universal, in ethics, lifestyle, business and medicine among many other areas.
If the proper function (telos or ergon) of human persons qua rational animal is happiness (eudaimonia) or living well (eu zên), then happiness is the activity of the rational soul In accordance with excellence, or virtue. Virtues are context appropriate means (the golden mean) between an excess and a deficit with respect to some action or emotion.
https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/notes/aristotelian-virtues
The doctrine is simple: in any situation, the best choice forward is a middle ground between extremes. The US Constitution is an example of the application of this principle: this document created what is now the longest lasting form of government currently on the planet, one of the best standards of living, one of the safest investments and perhaps still the strongest currency. The basis of this form of government is negotiation and compromise, the creation of a middling path that works. The immediate threat to all of that is mindless extremism.
We see clear demonstrations of the value of moderation in health.
- We know that any medication or dietary supplement taken in excess can be harmful, even vitamins; however some vitamin supplements may be required for optimal health.
- We know that alcohol taken to excess causes liver damage and behavioral issues. We don’t in fact know that abstaining from alcohol entirely is a good thing and many of the longest lived among us report some modest level of consumption.
- We know that both excessive weight and anorexia can lead to heart damage and death. The moderately curvy body isn’t the problem.
- The body can be harmed by too much or too little sleep time. While the amount of sleep required varies by age, you should know what your target is and try to keep to it.
- Some doctors argue against excessive screening for cancer, but avoiding excess isn’t the same as doing none. As has been famously said by several doctors over the years, “the best test for colorectal cancer is the one that gets done”.
- Was there ever a time when being a workaholic was considered a healthy lifestyle? Really?
- Some stress may be necessary to function, but excessive stress leads to adverse life, work and health outcomes — paralysis by analysis and hypertension, for example.
In every case, there’s a middle road that leads to better results.
I had two acquaintances many years ago. One drank a certain highly caffeinated soft drink to excess, and had to be hospitalized and go through a detox program for that beverage. The other ate a diet of plain pasta, no sauces, and was hospitalized for malnutrition. Extreme behavior in these cases was life-threatening.
The blunt truth is that extremes tend to be suicidal.
OK, moderation isn’t sexy. It isn’t the way to become a star on social media. But it may be the key to a much happier and longer life than extremists ever achieve.
Sources:
- https://historyplex.com/aristotles-philosophy-of-golden-mean
- https://philosophy.tamucc.edu/notes/aristotelian-virtues
- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/
- Image source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBXq8WT71K0/VVcExSymVbI/AAAAAAAABG0/9Ti1ouRifnM/s1600/goldenmeans.gif
- http://gcaclassicsclub.blogspot.com/2015/05/lesson-23-golden-mean.html
CRAIN'S COMMENTS 
