Final answer:
Virtue, often equated with common sense, combines the wisdom to do the right thing with the will to do it. It's a balance between extremes, requiring practical wisdom and character cultivation, essential to morality and well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The virtue often equated with "common sense" and involves the wisdom to do the right thing coupled with the will to do it is a concept central to virtue ethics, a philosophical theory which focuses on human character and morality.
According to Carol Lewis and philosophical traditions stemming from thinkers like Aristotle, virtue is characterized by the mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency. Virtue ethics takes a character-centered approach, where right action is considered to flow from right character, necessitating a balance between various character traits.
Practical wisdom, in Aristotelian terms, means being able to deliberate well about what is good and beneficial for oneself and for the wider community. This form of wisdom requires not only intellectual understanding but also the right desires and correct inclination towards ethical action.
Aristotle believed that virtues, unlike our senses, are acquired through practice and cultivating the right habits. We become virtuous, such as being brave or just, by doing brave or just acts. In this way, virtues align closely with one’s well-being, contributing to a fulfilled life or eudaimonia.
In the broader scope of political and moral philosophy, philosophers like Sir William David Ross and Confucius have also emphasized the importance of virtue and character formation in leading a good life. Contemporary discussions on virtue also invoke common sense, which is understood as a basic awareness of practical wisdom that everyone should possess.
Virtues like wisdom, courage, and justice are considered foundational for cultivating a good life and are necessary for dealing with life's challenges as proposed by Roman Stoics, aligning with the idea that living virtuously equates to living well.