The Aporia
Beacom, N. (2026, August 24). Vice Cannot Build Virtue. The Dispatch. https://thedispatch.com/article/machiavelli-aristotle-virtue-vice-republic/
Beacom, Nathan. “Vice Cannot Build Virtue.” The Dispatch, 24 Aug. 2026, https://thedispatch.com/article/machiavelli-aristotle-virtue-vice-republic/.
Beacom, Nathan. “Vice Cannot Build Virtue.” The Dispatch, August 24, 2026. https://thedispatch.com/article/machiavelli-aristotle-virtue-vice-republic/.
Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.
A classic debate in Western philosophy is being referenced without specific detail on what exactly the current issue or situation is. However, for centuries, it was assumed that people in positions of authority should also possess high moral character. This idea was held by influential thinkers such as Aristotle and Cicero, among others.