CHAPTER 4 - ARISTOTLE Chapter 4 79 ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHY OF LAW by Fred D. Miller‚ Jr.1 4.1. Life and Writings of Aristotle Aristotle was born in 384 B.C. at Stagira in northern Greece‚ the son of Nicomachus‚ a physician of King Amyntas II of Macedonia. At age seventeen he entered Plato’s Academy in Athens‚ where he studied for nineteen years. In addition to composing a number of dialogues now lost‚ he may have then begun work on his Rhetoric. After Plato’s death (348) Aristotle grew alienated
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According to Aristotle‚ the highest virtue of man is reason. He believes reason is what separates us from other living beings. Without reason‚ we would be no different than animals living on instinct. To understand exactly what he means‚ we must understand how Aristotle defines virtue. Virtue‚ according to Aristotle‚ is the excellence of function. Everything has a specific function and performing that function with excellence leads to having virtue. He believes the unique human function is
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Aristotle on Speaking and Rhetoric Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E) was an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. He is known as one of the greatest intellectual figures of all time. Aristotle covered most of the sciences and many of the arts. He has been called the father of modern science. The Rhetorical Triangle consists of Ethos‚ Pathos‚ and Logos. Like wise‚ the Canons of Rhetoric are broken down into five parts: Invention‚ arrangement‚ style‚ memory‚ and delivery. Aristotle’s work
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term “happiness‚” is synonymous with function because having a purpose in life is what gives a human their innate will to live. Feeling that their presence is useful and meaningful allows for a constant conquest to be the best version of oneself. Aristotle‚ in his essay‚ “On Happiness‚” states that “for just as the goodness and performance… of man would seem to reside in whatever is his proper function” (7). Essentially‚ this means that until one can
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Poetics by Aristotle Aristotle’s Poetics is the earliest-surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory 6 Constituent Parts * plot (mythos) Refers to the "structure of incidents" (actions). Key elements of the plot are reversals‚ recognitions‚ and suffering. The best plot should be "complex" (i.e. involve a change of fortune). It should imitate actions arousing fear and pity. Thus it should proceed from good fortune to bad
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Calmness is defined by Aristotle as he opposite of anger and as the characteristic of meek people. Any mature person will remain calm in front of those who show serious behaviour and do not confront him with contempt‚ but express their respect. Fear is discussed by the philosopher from the point of view of those who may provoke fear and of whom one should be cautious. Worse are the persons who have the power and behave unjustly to the weak and poor. One becomes courageous after having
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Ethics and Aristotle A married couple‚ both addicted to drugs‚ is unable to care for their infant daughter. She is taken from them by court order and placed in a foster home. The years passed. She comes to regard her foster parents as her real parents. They love her as they would their own daughter. When the child is 9 years old‚ the natural parents‚ rehabilitated from drugs‚ begin court action to regain custody. The case is decided in their favor. The child is returned to them‚ against her
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The Meno – “No one wants what is bad” (78a). During Socrates and Meno’s search to find out what virtue is‚ they “have found many virtues while looking for one” (74a). Their conversation had led to many different responses but one proved to be vastly interesting. Socrates states “No one wants what is bad” (78a). After many of Meno’s thoughts of what virtue was had been discarded‚ Meno believes “virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them” (77b). Socrates reply is
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Estelle Rousseau Ancient Greek Philosophy Professor Lemos 23 November 2012 Plato and Aristotle’s Contrasting Views on the Nature of the Soul Both Plato and Aristotle offered theories on the nature of the soul throughout their prolific careers. Though they both agree on the existence of a soul in living things‚ they diverge in perspective on its ultimate goals‚ how it exists in relation to the body‚ what actions benefit and harm it‚ and whether or not our souls survive our bodies in death. In
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What exacty is virtue and how does one describe it? In the dialog Meno‚ two men‚ Meno and Socrates‚ attempt to define virtue. The dialog begins with Meno asking Socrates if virtue can be taught. Personally‚ I do not imagine that virtue can be taught. Meno does not exactly know what virtue is but guesses that it is to possess power and to retain good things. Socrates argues that learning is impossible because a soul has already learned everything from passed lives and that learning is simply recollection
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