Coaching for Virtue in Plato’s Academy

A better understanding of the relationship among arete, athletics, and education in ancient Greek thought may inspire the modern coach who puts character first to find creative ways to fight that good fight and to become a coach of virtue. Coaching for virtue means not only exhorting athletes to put arete first; it also requires coaches to model this priority personally in their own choices and attitudes. Platonic educators are looking for spiritual qualities that can be developed into virtues. These are the kinds of traits that Plato describes in relation to the cardinal virtues in his ethical philosophy—virtues still widely valued today: respect, courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom. This chapter explains how a coach in Plato's Academy might have used sport to help develop these virtues. The foundation of education for arete in the Platonic scheme is summed up in Socrates' famous declaration that his wisdom lies precisely in the awareness that he is not wise.