Final answer:
Virtuous individuals acquire virtue through habit and knowledge of the good, as suggested by Aristotle and Socrates respectively. Their character is shaped by practicing virtuous actions and seeking an understanding of what constitutes the good.
Step-by-step explanation:
If virtue is neither teachable nor inborn, according to the hypothetical premise, then those who are virtuous must acquire it through other means. Aristotle posits that moral virtue comes about as a result of habit, and that we are naturally disposed to receive virtues and perfect them through habitual actions. On the other hand, Socrates, as recorded by Plato, suggests that knowledge of the good is essential for virtuous behavior; evil and wrongdoing arise out of ignorance. By this understanding, the pursuit of knowledge and the quest for the good are deeply intertwined with virtuous living. Therefore, for someone to be virtuous, they must engage in virtuous acts repeatedly to form the necessary habits, while also seeking to understand and know the good.
Regarding the consistency with Socrates's emphasis on justice, action, and knowledge, the acquisition of virtue through habit and understanding is aligned with his ideology. Socrates advocates for the search for knowledge as a critical component of the good life, implying that understanding what virtue is plays a role in becoming virtuous. Even though Socrates himself didn't explicitly discuss habit formation, his assertion that knowledge leads to right action implies that one would naturally develop virtuous habits upon knowing the good.
Ultimately, both the habitual practice of virtuous actions and the understanding of the good shape a person's character. The virtuous get their virtue through the practices they engage in and the wisdom they acquire.