Aristotle

Cami (Politics)

It is interesting to read this during such an influential election. It seems now more than ever a relative morality is pervasive in our country. Proposition 8, abortion laws, socialized medicine and schooling--these kinds of things are all addressed here in Aristotle. And more than that, he warns us against exactly what is happening now. . .

The standard of morality is of most importance because "man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from law and justice, he is worst of all." And Aristotle's idea of law and justice is quite refined. . . One of my favorite quotes about money, but which can be applied to politics and everything else, is this: "Of everything which we possess there are two uses. Both belong tothe thing as such, but not in the same manner, for one is the proper, and the other the improper or secondary use of it." Again he appeals to the higher good. Sure, you can use anything any way you want, but there is a standard for what is should be used for.

In conclusion, I will allude to the reason Aristotle considered politics to be so important. He talks about the many classes, or different roles played, in every society, and how each of them are important in their own way. We depend on each other and rely on each other and connot survive without each other. Each of these classes are a part of the body of a state. But the government, Aristotle considers to be the soul. It goes to reason that if the soul is corrupted, by not aiming for the greatest good, then the body is soon to follow.


Janice (Ethics)

It's true that he is more difficult to slog through than Plato. I had to skim a lot. But it was worthwhile. He had many of the same concerns as Plato--you can see the influence--but goes into much more detail about relationships and virtues and motives. A lot is repetitive. My instro says these are his notes for various lectures, hence, the rambliness.

In this study of human nature we are exhorted to rise above any base and selfish inclinations. "Our task is to become good men, or achieve the highest human good. That good is happiness . .. It's all quite secular and worldly, but intensely moral. He has some very good arguments supporting his thesis that virtues must be acquired, just as vices are acquired. "So it is a matter of no little importance what sort of habits we form from the earliest age--it makes a vast difference, or rather all the difference in the world." (92) Another thing he drills into us is how we must arrive at the "mean" of every virtue, for instance, too much patience can be bad, just as not enough patience can be bad. He calls it excess and deficiency in actions and feelings. Everything must be in its proper intensity. "For men are bad in countless ways, and good in only one." (101) But not every feeling or action has a mean, because some are simply depraved, evil in themselves, such as malice, shamelessness and envy, and adultery, theft and murder. These are simply wrong, no matter what.

It's an amazing accumulation of wisdom and understanding. Everyone should know what Aristotle was really about.


Julia (Poetics)

"Contemplation is the highest form of activity." --Aristotle

Poetics is an analysis of Greek tragedy and has enormous influence on literary criticism. His whole approach to life is more earthbound than Plato's, less utopian and more geared to the actual nature and abilities of the ordinary man.

Examining the nature of tragedy, he takes as its prime example Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. He believed that tragedy deeply affects the spectator by arousing the emotions of fear and pity, and then purifying and cleansing him of these emotions. Aristotle called this process catharsis. When I saw the movie, The Changling recently I had these same kinds of emotions, so now, according to Aristotle, I have experienced catharsis and should be a more whole and better adjusted person.

I don't necessarily agree with Fadiman when he says "Aristotle tells us that education is accompanied by pain. And education in Aristotle himself involves, if not pain, at least difficulty. Unlike his master, Plato, he is charmless."