Question 7: Aristotle says we cannot really be happy without certain external goods that are not fully in our control: good family‚ friends‚ financial security‚ children‚ beauty. Do you agree? Do our external circumstances determine if we have a good life? Or can we have a good life by becoming independent of external circumstances? Answer: Before I begin to explain my answer to the first question‚ I think it’s important to note that Aristotle acknowledged the existence of contention between what
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ARISTOTLE Aristotle was born on 384 BC in Stageira‚ Chalcidice 34 miles east of modern-day Thessaloniki. His father Nicomachus was the personal physician to King Amyntas of Macedon. Aristotle educated as a member of aristocracy and at the age of eighteen‚ he went to Athens to do his further studies in Plato’s Academy. He was there at the beginning as a student of Plato‚ and then became a researcher and finally a teacher. Aristotle married Hermias’s niece Pythias who died ten years later. After
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that have been as influential as the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle was even a student of Plato’s‚ having studied under him for over 20 years. However‚ both men still held opposing views when it came to certain views about how the state should be ruled. One such view was on the ability to own private property and the ability to rule. Plato’s‚ The Republic and Aristotle’s‚ the Politics of Aristotle illustrates both philosophers’ ideal states of regime. It is also where we
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I found the idea of ‘good’ in Book 1 to be particularly interesting. Aristotle begins Politics by defining that a state is defined by its “view to some good” (1252a1). He later goes on to define that the state exists “for the sake of a good life” after its citizens have met their bare necessities. What does Aristotle mean by ‘good’? Does it mean happiness? Stability? I found this idea particularly intriguing because Aristotle points out that this goodness is best achieved collectively rather than
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Luke Coviello 10/13/13 History 153 Merson Aristotle Aristotle was a pupil of the famous philosopher Plato. During his lifetime (384-322 BC) he learned and taught Socratic philosophy which was taught to him. He was taught this philosophy by Plato‚ who is responsible for all of Socrates written works since Socrates himself did not write down his teachings. During his teen years he was enrolled in Plato’s “Academy” where he then taught for about 20 years after his graduation. After this
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concepts: doctrine of the mean‚ the endoxic method‚ the function argument‚ omnipotence The Endoxic Method- reputable opinions for ex.Happiness as uniquely human‚ as under our control‚ as requiring activity. The Function Argument-To know whether P is a good instance of its kind‚ you need to know the function (ergon) of P A virtue/excellence (arētē) of P is a characteristic P needs in order to fulfill its function. The Doctrine of the mean-1.For any given situation‚ there is a specific affectation appropriate
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Aristotle:Nicomachean Ethics Jonathan Rodriguez I. Introduction Aristotle is considered to be one of the greatest philosophical thinkers of all time. His writings compose of searching 'what is the purpose of life' and 'function of man'. His goal was to know what makes a person’s life well and how we get there. Aristotle believes that the nature of morality is grounded in the function of persons‚ meaning that we must act in order to become happy and fulfilled. What are the
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are concerned with the idea of the good or just actions one should make in life in order to achieve happiness. This goal of explaining and defining the highest good for man was a concern for the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Christian philosopher St. Augustine. Aristotle provided his account of how one may achieve a good life in his Nicomachean Ethics and Augustine in his writings of the two cities – the city of man and the city of God. Aristotle gives a more subjective account of
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quote by Aristotle was taken from ‘Aristotle: a Very Short Introduction’ and there is no-one of whom this is more true than Aristotle as he was dedicated to every possible discipline he could sink his teeth into making him one of the utmost key figures within philosophy‚ not only in classical philosophy but he is still regarded as influential in modern philosophy. As well as being a devoted biologist‚ botanist‚ moral philosopher‚ psychologist‚ zoologist and many more things besides Aristotle held
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Aristotle is a famous Greek philosopher. Given the name “The Philosopher‚” his ideas were of great importance to Greece during his lifetime. Throughout his life in ancient Greece‚ he gained popularity because of his many teachings and brilliant logic. His early childhood influenced his scientific thoughts‚ and his time at the Academy in Athens brought him to the study of philosophy as well. Through many observations‚ he made large amounts of discoveries that are still proven true in modern times
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