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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Discipline_of_the_Soul_Character_Sick, page : 7
of them are balanced and not others is good of character in respect of his
balanced traits alone, in the manner of a man only some of whose facial features
are handsome. The irascible faculty, when sound and balanced, is called
„courage‟ (shuj‟a); similarly, the appetitive faculty, when sound and balanced, is
known as „Temperance‟ (iffa). Should the former faculty lose its balance and
incline towards excess it is called „recklessness‟ (tahawwur), while should it
incline towards weakness and insufficiency it is termed „cowardice‟ (jubn) and
„languor‟ (khur). Should the appetitive faculty move to the point of excess it is
called „cupidity‟ (sharah), while if it should incline to defect it is known as
„indifference‟ (jumud). The mean is the praiseworthy thing, and it is this, which
constitutes virtue, while the two extremes are blameworthy vices.
The faculty for just equilibrium, however, when in disorder, has no extremes of
excess and defect; rather it has one opposite, which is tyranny (jur). As for
wisdom, exceeding the bounds in its regard by using it for corrupt ends is called
balanced traits alone, in the manner of a man only some of whose facial features
are handsome. The irascible faculty, when sound and balanced, is called
„courage‟ (shuj‟a); similarly, the appetitive faculty, when sound and balanced, is
known as „Temperance‟ (iffa). Should the former faculty lose its balance and
incline towards excess it is called „recklessness‟ (tahawwur), while should it
incline towards weakness and insufficiency it is termed „cowardice‟ (jubn) and
„languor‟ (khur). Should the appetitive faculty move to the point of excess it is
called „cupidity‟ (sharah), while if it should incline to defect it is known as
„indifference‟ (jumud). The mean is the praiseworthy thing, and it is this, which
constitutes virtue, while the two extremes are blameworthy vices.
The faculty for just equilibrium, however, when in disorder, has no extremes of
excess and defect; rather it has one opposite, which is tyranny (jur). As for
wisdom, exceeding the bounds in its regard by using it for corrupt ends is called