The purpose of this article is to examine and apply the ancient Greek principle of arete (embodied excellence/virtue) to the field of physical education in order to provide it with a powerful intrinsic justification and thus elevate it to the status of a fundamental academic discipline. Physical education, when guided by an arete-based philosophy, should be understood as the instruction of kinesthetic intelligence for the sake of human excellence. Social-emotional learning and the vast public health outcomes will necessarily be included, but will become properly oriented within the larger project of arete rather than being the exclusive focus of the profession.