What defines the virtuous man in Nicomachean Ethics?

In the "Nicomachean Ethics," Aristotle presents a nuanced understanding of virtue, emphasizing the importance of rationality in moral behavior. The virtuous man is defined by his ability to align his desires with rational principles. This means that he does not merely seek pleasure or follow his desires blindly; rather, he finds satisfaction in actions that are aligned with virtue, which involves both fulfilling his natural inclinations and adhering to rational considerations of what is good.

The idea is that virtue is a mean between extremes, and the virtuous person strikes a balance where both rational and inclinations are satisfied. For instance, a virtuous man might enjoy pleasure from helping others, but his actions are guided by rational deliberation about the good, making his pleasure an outcome of virtuous behavior rather than an end in itself. This alignment exemplifies the integration of reason and desire, leading to a fulfilling and meaningful life.

In contrast, simply acting for pleasure or struggling against all desires does not capture the essence of virtue as defined by Aristotle, as those approaches either overlook the importance of rationality or suggest a disconnection from innate human feelings. The option that one feels no pleasure from good behavior misunderstands the relationship between virtue and pleasure in Aristotle's ethical framework. Thus,