“Acts done to avoid greater evil are of mixed nature but resemble voluntary acts.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, Chapter 1
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
The Big Idea
Tough choices aren’t black-and-white. Think:
- Choosing to cheat on a test to avoid parental punishment → Feels forced but still your call 🤷♂️
- Like eating broccoli to skip worse veggies – you technically chose it, but under pressure 🥦
Real-Life Scenarios
🔥 Bully Dilemma
Mixed Action = Giving lunch money to a bully to protect your friend → Gets less blame than choosing to bully for fun.
🤝 Homework Hack
Mixed Action = Copying answers to avoid failing a class → Still wrong, but teachers might go easier than if you cheated for laziness.
📱 Social Media Pressure
Mixed Action = Posting mean comments to fit in with popular kids → Worse than accidental slips, better than pure cruelty.
Try This Week
- The “Why” Scale
Rate your choices from 1 (totally forced) to 10 (fully voluntary):- “Lied about homework because Mom was yelling” → 3/10
- “Lied to make friends laugh” → 8/10
- Better Option Hunt
Next tough choice, ask:
“Is there a third way that’s less bad?” (Example: Tell teacher about bully threats instead of paying them) - Guilt Check
Write 1 “mixed action” you did this week and circle how much control you really had.