Nevermind my previous post. It doesn't really make much sense to try to fit that definition of virtue with a Christian definition of virtue, does it?
Is it more virtuous for a rich man to give away 1% of his wealth than a poor man to give away all he has just because the impact of the 1% of the wealth of the rich man is bigger than that of the poor man?
It doesn't align completely because the existence of Christ acting on our behalf changes some acts of expected nobility to those of meekness and obedience, for instance "To take vengeance on one's enemies is nobler than to come to terms with them; for to retaliate is just, and that which is just is noble; and further, a courageous man ought not to allow himself to be beaten."
This is still 100% true, but not in the way Aristotle said it. We can still judge other people against the law and defend ourselves, but we are not to take vengeance because the Lord has explicitly reserved that for Himself, we sometimes called to allow ourselves to be martyred, and Final Justice is determined by the Father alone.
2)
Likewise, humans will usually admire the rich man, in your example, more than the poor man, because the rich man is giving a larger concrete benefit to others, but Jesus doesn't view humans the way humans tend to view humans. He has said that the poor man is the nobler, in this case, as his sacrifice is greater.
The Beatitudes were His declaration that some human virtues will be turned on their head, in the Heavenly Order.
Aristotle never heard the Beatitudes, but he can give us deep insight into the Natural Order.
I also just like to compare and contrast the two orders and see where they align and conflict. The Heavenly Order contains the fullness of Grace, so it can be amazingly different.
I think this is why Christian women admire men for doing things that other women would consider low behavior. We understand the amount of Grace required to rise above the temptation to aim for the highest earthly nobility, by putting the urge for heavenly nobility first.
I guess that is an aspect of "heroic virtue".
#catholic
3) I also find it interesting that he says "all attendant circumstances, such as noble birth and education, merely conduce to persuasion; for it is probable that virtuous parents will have virtuous offspring and that a man will turn out as he has been brought up."
because the Bible seems to take this expectation into account and spends quite a bit of time emphasizing that Jesus is descended from the most legendary of kings and the most noble of mothers, and is then raised by the most virtuous patron and protector possible (St. Joseph).
