Aristotle (1996) 'Nicomachean Ethics', in John Cottingham, ed. _Western Philosophy: An Anthology_ [Ethika Nikomacheia, c. 325 BC] trans. John Cottingham, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 326-370.

'Virtue is of two kinds, intellectual and ethical.' (Aristotle 1996: 367) Ethical virtue for Aristotle is more than simply an intellectual decision on how to best act in a given situation but also relies on ingrained habits of action, as a 'disposition of character' (indeed the greek noun 'ethos' stands for habits or customs). Actions are negotiated through excess and deficiency, making virtue a 'mean' of these two 'vices'; a disposition concerned with choice. In this way, Aristotle connects the attainment of virtue to be something similar to musical skill, that is improved with practice. His example is the playing of a musical instrument, not just playing something but playing it well, in parallel to a virtuous human agent not just acting in the world but doing this well: 'each function being discharged well when performed in accordance with its special virtue' (1996: 367). [example: Cory Arcangel's Glenn Gould work]

It is learnt by doing it: 'The causes and means whereby every virtue is cultivated or destroyed are the same, just as in the case of all the arts. [...] If this were not the case there would be no need for teachers and everyone would be born good or bad. It is just like this with the virtues.' (1996: 368)