Here's what I asked:
Here's what it gave me - I'll have to try this for Homer next ...I'm better at NT greek than this ;-> help me understand each phrase.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics III.6 (1113a14–15) — Phrase-by-Phrase
TextPhrase by phraseἡ δ᾽ ἀρετὴ ἕξις προαιρετικὴ, ἐν μεσότητι οὖσα τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὡρισμένη λόγῳ καὶ ᾧ ἂν ὁ φρόνιμος ὁρίσειεν.
ἡ δ᾽ ἀρετὴἕξις προαιρετικὴ
- hē d’ aretē = “Now virtue…”
- ἀρετή = virtue, excellence (broad sense, not only “moral”)
- δέ = transitional particle (“and / but / now”)
ἐν μεσότητι οὖσα τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς
- hexis proairetikē = “a disposition concerned with choice”
- ἕξις = settled state / habit / disposition (something you “have” steadily)
- προαιρετική (from προαίρεσις) = pertaining to deliberate choice / decision
ὡρισμένη λόγῳ
- en mesotēti ousa tē pros hēmas = “being in a mean, relative to us”
- ἐν μεσότητι = “in a mean / middle point” (not a strict average, but the right balance)
- οὖσα = participle of εἰμί, “being”
- τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς = “the [mean] relative to us” (person- and situation-relative)
καὶ ᾧ ἂν ὁ φρόνιμος ὁρίσειεν
- hōrismenē logō = “defined by reason”
- ὡρισμένη = perfect passive participle of ὁρίζω (“to define, mark off, set a boundary”)
- λόγῳ (dat.) = “by reason / rational account”
Putting it together
- kai hō(i) an ho phronimos horiseien = “and as the practically wise person would define it”
- φρόνιμος = prudent / practically wise
- ὁρίσειεν = aorist optative of ὁρίζω (“would define / would determine”)
- ἄν + optative = potential construction (“would”)
NT Greek touchpoints (to feel the words)“Virtue is a settled disposition concerned with deliberate choice, being a mean relative to us, defined by reason and as the practically wise person would define it.”
- ἕξις (disposition/habit): cf. Heb 5:14 — faculties “trained” (γεγυμνασμένα) to discern good/evil.
- προαίρεσις (deliberate choice): stronger/technical vs. NT αἱρέομαι “choose”; emphasizes rational, moral decision.
- μεσότης (mean): no direct NT term; think of Phil 4:5 τὸ ἐπιεικὲς (gentleness/moderation).
- ὁρίζω (define/appoint): Acts 17:26, 31 — God “appointed/defined” times and a day (ὁρίσας… ἡμέραν ὥρισεν).
- φρόνιμος (wise/prudent): Matt 7:24; 25:2 — the “wise” builder/virgins (φρόνιμοι)—practical wisdom in action.