Honesty about oneself: the virtue between boasting and self-deprecation Nicomachean Ethics

socrates used irony, aristotle considers acceptable type of dishonesty. many philosophers can away dishonest bragging, worse.

once again, aristotle said had no convenient greek word give virtuous , honest mean in case, person boasts claims qualities inappropriately, while person self-deprecates excessively makes no claim qualities have, or disparages himself. aristotle therefore names virtuous man person claims qualities has without exaggeration or understatement. in many of these examples, aristotle says excess (boastfulness) more blameworthy deficiency (being self-disparaging).

unlike treatment of flattery, described vice, aristotle describes ways in person might relatively blameless if dishonest own qualities, long not become fixed disposition boast. specifically, according aristotle boasting not blamed if aim honor or glory, blameworthy if aim money.

parts of section remarkable because of implications practice of philosophy. @ 1 point aristotle says examples of areas dishonest boasting gain might go undetected, , blameworthy, prophecy, philosophy, or medicine, of have both pretense , bragging. appears criticism of contemporary sophists. more remarkable fact 1 of vices under discussion, self-deprecation (greek eirôneia modern english irony ) adjective , used describe socrates. aristotle mentions socrates example, @ same time mentions (continuing theme) less excessive vice less blameworthy.