PreviewThe basic idea of Aristotle's work is to enhance our understanding about the 'good' and he describes it as something at which all things aim, which is the end in itself and therefore considered as the highest good. Aristotle describes this highest good as "happiness" which is complete in itself and that should be sought for its own sake. Contrary to Plato's concept, i.e. the source of all goodness in the universe, of whatever form or kind, is an absolute good; Aristotle holds a point-of-view that instead of a sole universal ideal, many kinds of good exist. Good, as a single ideal cannot encompass all different individuals, places and circumstances as "it cannot be something universally present in all cases and single" (31). He reasons this viewpoint through the logic that the notion of good changes with different categories; and Platonic theory of an ideal absolute good cannot be applied to all sciences or disciplines as the standards of good are different for different fields. Aristotle also contests ideal good notion for its practical application, as for a carpenter or doctor the knowledge of this ideal good is of no use as the appropriate good for each means to attain good in their own field, "for a doctor seems not even to study health in this way" but through the healing. He recognises that the practical good is the one that lies within the realms of the human perception and varies in its application. "Therefore, if there is an end for all that we do, this will be the good achievable by action, and if there are more than one, these will be the goods achievable by action" (32).
As for human nature, Aristotle demonstrates that all human beings innately crave for the absolute good that has been previously established as "happiness" by Aristotle. He further clarifies that simply living is not an act limited to human beings, as "life seems to be common even to plants." But higher than this life of growth and nutrition is the experience of sensation, but even this life is shared...
Philosophy In his discourse, The Republic, Plato describes the "ideal state" as composed of three social classes: the merchant class, military class, and philosopher-kings. The merchant class maintains and provides service to the society by safeguarding the people's economic activities, while the military class provides the society's security needs. However, in order to establish a stable society, the class of philosopher-kings must govern, having the knowledge, skills, and talent to govern
Certainly, rhetoric lends itself to the discovery of truth, as truth (Aristotle suggests) always makes more intuitive and intellectual sense compared to falsehood, and so equally talented rhetoricians will be more convincing sharing the truth than sharing falsehood. However, critics have pointed out that there is so "tension between Aristotle's epistemological optimism and his attempt to come to terms with rhetoric as a culturally and contextually specific social institution....
From this point-of-view, the role of the constitution was to provide equal conditions for everybody. The community was meant to be made of free people. The rules were supposed to follow the principle of justice, punishing those who would try to behave in an unjust manner (Aristotle's Political Theory, 2002).. In addition, he believed that the constitution was meant to serve the best interest of everybody and not just the
Socrates is one of the most renowned philosophers of all times. His dialectic method is used in a number of ways and has vital importance in literature and deliberation. In the contemporary era, Socratic or Dialectic Method is the term that is used to point out a conversation between two or more people who might have opposing views about an issue but they come to a conclusion after trying to
In conclusion, in Aristotle's account, some ends may be worth choosing for their own sakes and for the sake of happiness. Friends, honor, pleasure, and moral virtue may be worth choosing for two reasons: for their intrinsic value and for their contribution to happiness. Aristotle's ethics is eudaimonistic, meaning that every action is ultimately to be justified by reference to the person's own happiness. For Aristotle, anything that fulfills its essential
Mill believed that any act may itself be inherently moral, so long as the outcome of that action produces a benign effect. Mill believed that the most ethical act is that which produces the most good, even if the act itself is one which is traditionally considered evil. An example of utilitarian philosophy would include the killing of innocent animals to determine a cure for some infectious disease. And
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