Aristotle's Philosophy and Life

Aristotle's Life and Work

• Born in Stagira, Greece, in 384 BCE
• Studied at Plato's Academy in Athens for 20 years (from age 17 to 37)
• Tutored Alexander the Great for three years (starting at age 41)
• Founded the Lyceum in Athens - known for teaching while walking around
• Died in 322 BCE at the age of 62

Aristotle's Philosophy: A Contrast to Plato

• Plato: Focused on finding unity between the changing world and the unchanging world of Forms (ideas)
• Aristotle: Emphasized the differences between things and individuals.
• Plato: Believed in deduction and remembering, employing a mystic approach.
• Aristotle: Focused on observation, induction, and scientific analysis.

Aristotle's View of Humanity

• Key Elements of a Person:
  • Rationality (logos)
  • Living in a community (a "political animal")
• Emphasized that without rationality, virtue cannot be discussed

Aristotle's View of Reality

• Rejected the idea of a separate world of Forms.
• Believed reality is nature itself - what we see is what is real.
• Defined "Essence" as movement (change) from potentiality to actuality.

Aristotle's Four Causes

• Key concept to understand movement and change:
  • Material cause (the stuff it's made of)
  • Formal cause (the shape or form)
  • Efficient cause (the thing that brings it into existence)
  • Final cause (the purpose or goal it serves)

Aristotle's Division of Science

• He categorized his works into theoretical and applied sciences.
• Theoretical Science:
  • Concerned with understanding first principles
  • Aims to provide a comprehensive view of the world
  • Does not deal with practical applications

Aristotle's Applied Science

• Applied Science:
  • Concerned with practical applications
  • Used to solve specific problems in society
• Emphasized ethical and political science as important areas of application

Aristotle's Critique of the Sophists

• Rejected the sophists' view that "man is the measure of all things." (that there is no absolute truth)
• Disagreed with the materialists, who believed that everything is simply a result of natural laws.
• Argued in favor of a scientific approach to understanding ethics.

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

• The Good: Aristotle believed that all things aim at some good, and that the good is synonymous with the end.
• The Highest Good for Humans: Is happiness, defined as living well and acting well.
• Happiness as the Fulfilment of Function: Living a good and happy life requires fulfilling one's function as a human being.
• Types of Virtue:
  • Intellectual Virtue: Developed through teaching and reason.
  • Moral Virtue: Cultivated through habit and practice.

Developing Virtues: Key Points from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

• Virtuous Action: Defined as action that is chosen for its own sake, without regard for external rewards or punishments.
• Habits: Virtuous habits are gained through repeated acts of virtuous behavior.
• Hexis: Refers to the stable disposition or character trait that results from virtuous habits.
• The Golden Mean: Virtue lies in finding the middle ground between two extremes (excess and deficiency).
• The Role of Choice: Emphasizes the importance of making deliberate and rational choices, which contribute to a virtuous character.

Understanding Voluntary and Involuntary Actions: Essential for Ethical Analysis

• Voluntary Action: Actions that the individual consciously chooses, based on their own reasoning.
• Involuntary Action: Actions that the individual is forced to do, or that are done out of ignorance.
• Non-voluntary Action: Actions that the individual is not responsible for, even if done intentionally.

Key Concepts Related to Voluntary and Involuntary Actions

• Ignorance: A key factor in determining whether an action is voluntary. If someone acts out of ignorance of the consequences, their actions are considered involuntary.
• Constraint: An action done under constraint (like a robber holding a gun) is considered involuntary.
• Practical Syllogism: A model of logical reasoning that helps us understand the relationship between choice and action.
• Choice: The ability to choose between different possibilities.
• **Wish: ** The desire for a particular outcome.

Responsibility for Actions

• Individuals are fully responsible for the character traits they develop, which result from their repeated actions.

Aristotle's Vision of a Virtuous Life

• A good person is someone who has developed virtuous habits, consistently makes right choices, and lives a fulfilling life.