Why did Aristotle reject Plato's Theory of Forms? State at least two reasons.
(1) Nothing is more real than particular physical objects e.g. an individual element, human being, oak tree.
(2) Aristotle did not understand how physical objects can "share in" or "participate in" the platonic forms. The forms cannot account for why phys
How does Aristotle's concept of "Form" differ from Plato's?
The form is always matter, it can't be separated or exist independent from each other. Example: if we destroy all beautiful objects in the world, beauty would cease to exist.
What does Aristotle mean by "substance"? How does he define "substance"? What are some examples of primary substances, according to Aristotle?
Substance- (1): That which is neither predictable of a subject, nor present in a subject, e.g., an individual human being, individual horse, oak tree, a ball- what nouns refer to.
(2): Substance is that which underlies all the properties and changes in so
Explain Aristotle's distinction between an essential property and an accidental property (Give examples of each).
Essential Property- property that something must have and retain as long as they exist as the kind of thing that it is.
Accidental Property- property that something can gain or lose without ceasing to exist as the kind of thing that it is. An essential pr
How does Aristotle distinguish natural things from artificial things?
Natural- what exists when human hands are not around (trees, plants, animals etc.) Natural things have an internal principle of change/motion.
Artificial- made by man (bed or coat) but could be composed out of natural materials. Has no innate presence of
What are Aristotle's four causes? Name them and give an example of each
Why x? Why does x exist? How did x come to be?
4 explanatory factors for why anything exists and any change takes place:
(1) Material Cause: what is x made of?
Example: The bronze of the statue, the silver of the bowl, the leather of the shoe
(2) Formal C
Define "teleology." What leads Aristotle to think that natural events have purposes or goals? Do they? How does Aristotle's teleology differ from our modern scientific view of reality?
Teleology is the end, goal or aim. Modern Science- art/ activity/ pursuit/ action
Medicine= health
Ship Building= Vessels
Economic Activity= Wealth
-Everything has an aim/end (purpose) equivalent to the good
Virtues- good making characteristics
Medicine=
What is "teleology," and what is the teleological approach to ethics? How is Aristotle a teleologist?
Teleology is the study of the end, aim, goal or purpose (telos)
Art,activity, pursuit,
Shipbuilding,medicine, economic
What is the end or goal of all human action, according to Aristotle?
Eudaimonia (happiness), to live a rational life- to flourish, reason must be the dominant principle to a good life
The rational life: 1) Moral/Practical Virtues (use of reason in practical affairs)
2)Intellectual Virtues (use of reason in theoretical affa
What science studies the chief good (human happiness)? What is Aristotle's reason for designating that science as the one that studies the chief as good?
Political science is the science that studies the chief good due to the fact that you can promote good because political science encompasses all the sciences. .
What does Aristotle mean by "happiness (Eudaimonia)?" In what significant ways does his term differ from our own notion of happiness? How is what Aristotle means by "happiness" distinguishable from pleasure?
Aristole's Eudaimonia mean to live the "rational life". The rational life is human flourishing, You live the rational life by acquiring the two virtues, intellectual virtues and practical/moral virtues. Intellectual virtue is the use of reason in theoreti
Why should we not look for "too much precision" in ethics? Why can't ethics be an exact science- like mathematics or geometry (Aristotle's models)? Why is ethics more like the science of medicine (Aristotle's analogy)?
'Precision is not to be thought of in all subjects'- degree we can get in political science/ ethics. We can expect that it will not be exact like math. Exact sciences like math hold true always, whereas, ethics have general rules that can be modified or n
What are some incorrect views of the chief good? Why are they incorrect? What two conditions must a good chief satisfy?
Wealth doesn't satisfy the the Final End.
Pleasure,wealth,honor =incorrect views
2 conditions=" that which is desirable in itself and never for the sake of something else"
An act must be self-sufficient and final also must be attainable by man.
What are the arguments against Plato's doctrine of the Form of Good? In what way is Aristotle presenting an alternative to Plato's view?
Good- teleology- look at things in nature, function and it differs depending on what you're talking about, without appealing to anything 'godly or transcendent.' Self-sufficient: happiness is that for which everything else is done.
(Ex: Man is born for ci
How is Eudaimonia (happiness) related to the function of man?
Man is born for citizenship." Man needs care of other people to flourish, so man and his function need eudaimonia through a community.
What common conceptions of happiness support Aristotle's account of it?
Happiness for a human is to think, reproduce and pleasure with reasoning and balancing it all or the happy life for humans is just reason. Humans must live a combination of an intellectual, practical virtues in life. One must life out to their full potent
Why is Eudaimonia not for everyone? What are the necessary material and social conditions for happiness?
Some people cannot reach eudaimonia for reasons such as; They're ugly, They don't have children, If they are sickly and if you don't have money..
Is happiness acquired or a gift of the gods or of chance?
It's both, happiness depends on good fortune/chance as well as something that acquired through work.
How does Aristotle respond to Solon's claim that "no man can be called happy while he is still alive?" What does this show about Aristotle's notion of happiness?
One's success and reputation, unlike one's emotional well-being, can be affected after death, which makes Aristotle's discussion of eudaimonia after death considerably more relevant.
Consequently, happiness was not thought of as a private affair, dependen
What are two kinds of virtue? Give examples of each.
Intellectual Virtues- improving reason, logic, mathematical skill, learning to be the best you can
Moral/Practical Virtues- how we make decisions everyday/ act, must have a mean. Doing what feels right naturally
Ex:courage,justice,truthfulness
What is and is not sensible about Aristotle's attempt to place the meaning of "morally good person" on the same footing as "good knife, physician, and horse"? How and why does he try to do this? What problems do you see in what he says or what he fails to
All have a function or purpose and have a specific aim or goal.
The art of a craft is the practice of study and talent but that doesn't hold the same for morality. To be a morally good person is not the same study of skill as a shipbuilders or physicians
How is a moral virtue acquired?
Moral virtue is acquired by practice--
education and time is acquired by intellectual virtues- These are our habits.
What does Aristotle mean when he says that "the virtues arise in us are neither by nature nor against nature. Rather, we are by nature able to acquire them, and reach out complete perfection through habit?
Character traits do not come by nature. By nature we can acquire and practice. States of character traits correspond to like activities. How you were raised will affect who you are later in life.
Is Aristotle right in his claim that "Temperance and bravery...are ruined by excess and deficiency but preserved by the mean"?
Yes, too much or too little of each can be bad for anyone, sometimes you need to know when to step down and not be brave and other times you can be too temperate because you need to stick up for what you believe is right. Temperance individuals avoid exce
Is Aristotle's account of who a virtuous person is and how one becomes virtuous circular or paradoxical? (If you have had the misfortune of being brought up vulgar and inconsiderate, is there any hope for you?)
To become a just person- do just actions. If I am doing just actions, am I not already a just person?
Chapter 4: Paragraph 2: Pg. 186- Initially, you do things at the suggestion of another (Your parents telling you to say thank you makes you learn to be g
How does the practice of moral virtue differ from the practice of a craft?
For moral virtue we want to know what is behind the action. Where fro craft and art, the product is all that matters. Craft or art- the product should have a certain characteristic. What is behind the action depends on what is considered morally good; for
Why does Aristotle say that virtues cannot be feelings of capacities, but must be states? Give examples of what Aristotle means by a feeling, capacity and state.
Feelings: "By feelings I mean appetite, anger, fear, confidence, envy, joy, love, hate, longing, jealousy, pity, in general whatever implies pleasure or pain
Capacities: "By capacities I mean what we have when we are said to be capable of these feelings
What is the difference between a numerical mean and the mean relative to us? Are the virtues a numerical mean or a mean relative to us? Why?
Numerical Mean- this is a set mean. Ex. 10,15,20 the mean is 15.
Relative mean- This is a mean that changes from person to person. It is whatever best fits you therefore there is no set mean for this.
In what sense is virtue the "mean between the extremes?" Give examples of different virtues, and ow each of them is a mean between extremes.
Ex.Fear- Too much (vice of excess) - Coward, Moderate/Right amount (Virtue mean) - Courage, Too little (Vice of deficiency)- Being rash.
You do not want to be a coward but you also do not want to be rash so the mean of those things would be courage.
*Virt
Explain Aristotle's definition of virtue
Virtue- a state or characteristic, concerned with choice lying in a meaning- determined by a rational principle; We should make reference to people in society that have seemed to set the standard on the 'right' thing to do.
Why does Aristotle reject the claim that pleasure is the good?
Pleasure is an ingredient in the good life. it doesn't have any thinking, intellect or rationality
How is activity promoted by its proper pleasure? how is it impeded by an alien pleasure?
Proper pleasure is from doing the right amount of something and not over indulging in it. Such as eating the right amount of healthy foods will make you feel good. It can be impeded on by alien pleasure such as being convinced to go party instead of study
Why does Aristotle reject the idea that happiness (eudaimonia) is the same thing as amusement?
Aristotle believes that amusement is a simple factor in happiness .
What is ideal human activity and the ideal type of person, according to Aristotle? why? what reasons does Aristotle give for why this type of life is ideal?
Aristotle believes that the ideal human activity is contemplation. And the ideal person a philosopher because of their dedication to contemplation and thought. the reason Aristotle believes that contemplation is the ideal human activity is because that is
Moral reasoning
Doing the right thing, hitting the mean
Theoretical reasoning
Contemplating the ultimate truths
Material cause
What is it made of?
Formal cause
What is made?
Efficent cause
Who made?
Final cause
What is it made for?