Titian’s School of Athens

ARISTOTLE

THE SCIENTIST

The scientific observer

• A categorizer, and organizer.

• Some men are born to lead and some to follow.

• Hence, slavery OK, because it is ‘ natural’, inequality of genders as well.

What is natural is both real and right

JUSTICE : Definition 1

• Justice is treating equals equally

• And treating unequals unequally

The logician

• Father of syllogism

• All men are mortal.

• Socrates is mortal.

• Socrates is a man.

The four causes

• Material out of what

• Efficient by what

• Formal into what

• Final for the purpose of what

• the end (telos, hence teleology)

What is the end (goal) of man?

• The Nicomachean Ethics.– An attempt to show how we should behave– “should” indicates in keeping with our proper,

just (final) cause.

– A lot about friendship: 3 types for our good shared interest, and ‘true’ friendship

• What is a “good” man?

• Good for what?

What are the “goods”?

• Some goods are self evident.

• Health, knowledge, skills, liberty

• Society – to allow the others to be achieved

Doctrine of the Mean

• Virtues are the midpoint, the “goldilocks’ just right balance between extremes.

• Ex: Deficiency =cowardice Excess = foolhardinessVirtue = courage

Miserliness, extravagance, generosity

Modern example

• Deficiency not caring about a test

• Excess obsessing about a test pulling an all-nighter panic attack

• Virtue preparedness

• NB Plato’s definition of justice, harmony balance, proper ordering

So,

• Virtues, practiced, habitual

• Eudaimonia: activity of the soul in accord with virtue

• What is the highest pleasure?

• Happiness and pleasure

The end of man.

• To realize our potential,

• The highest activity we are capable of, that which is most like the gods?

• Not the mentality of a child, pleasurable as it is.

• Not just pleasure

• Active or passive? – Contemplative or by good deeds

Abraham MaslowAmerican 1908-1970

• Hierarchy of needs,

• None higher can be reached until the lower ones are satisfied.

• Physical needs

• Safety needs

• Belonging needs

• Esteem needs

Self actualization

• Which means?

What are the “goods”?

• Real (needs) and apparent (wants):

• Of the real:– Instrumental and ultimate– Of the instrumental– Possessions (external) and – Perfections (internal)