Well, it's important to remember that in philosophy -- as Aristotle points out -- we're often not starting from definitions, but working our way to them -- that work is what gets called "dialectic." It's in the path to the definition that you find the justification. For the function of a person, Aristotle tackles that in several ways, but most important is looking at the parts or activities of the human soul, and seeing what is distinctively human in it.
@GregoryBSadler
11 жыл бұрын
There are plenty of them, but watch out for the word "function", which is a loose translation of "ergon", but could also translate a number of other Greek or Latin terms. You'll find most classic ancient and medieval thinkers writing about the function, purpose, end, etc. of a human being in their works.
@GregoryBSadler
12 жыл бұрын
new Core Concept video on Aristotle and human happiness
@66777jason
8 жыл бұрын
thank you
@GregoryBSadler
8 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@Tritdry
11 жыл бұрын
Hey Gregory, really enjoying the videos. This topic on the function of a human being i find very interesting, do you have more videos on this topic? Also do you know of other philosophers or the like that wrote about the function of human beings?
@elunico13
12 жыл бұрын
These videos are great! @ 14:00 until the end - purpose of human existence and happiness. How does Aristotle give justification for his definitions of purpose and happiness?
@kirahamilton8835
3 жыл бұрын
Your Aristotle videos are the main thing getting me through my ethics class. Thank you
@GregoryBSadler
3 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
@SunshineInWoods
10 жыл бұрын
17:35 What makes us good does not just depend on what we do, but on what we feel and why we feel it (while we're doing something). That's a very interesting point. However in another video you state that in the process of becoming an habit, applying the virtue may be painful at first. Could we then say that it cannot yet be considered virtue at that point? Are there other videos in which you look specifically at this point? Thanks.
@GregoryBSadler
10 жыл бұрын
Yes, of course, if we don't yet take pleasure in doing virtuous activity, according to Aristotle, we're not yet virtuous. I've got an entire Aristotle playlist that you can poke around in. . . .
@SunshineInWoods
10 жыл бұрын
Thank you for always taking the time to answer comments. I'm interested in the practical implications of N.E. Are you aware of any modern review of the validity of this work? Did someone ever ask: "Does it really work the way Aristotle say? Is this the way we learn proactive behavior? and so on?"
@GregoryBSadler
10 жыл бұрын
There's a vast contemporary literature out there on Aristotle. Sounds like a good research project -- a lit review
@SunshineInWoods
10 жыл бұрын
What is the major mentioned at 16:00 "Psych...something" ?
@GregoryBSadler
10 жыл бұрын
psych(ology)-special ed(ucation) -- quite a popular double major these days
@Shitgotmegeekin
2 жыл бұрын
So every activity/action strives for some good. And so if we manage to find the ’main’ activity/action of humans we can find the good we should/do strive for? It’s not THE good, like Plato suggests we should strive to know, but something tangible.
@GregoryBSadler
2 жыл бұрын
Tangible literally means you can touch it. So, no
@Shitgotmegeekin
2 жыл бұрын
@@GregoryBSadler I’d like to be quite straight forward then and say ’realistic’ instead, truly useful maybe. Reading Plato I always found his theory of the Forms quite neat, and they made sense to me. Yet there was always something lingering in the back of my head questioning wether seeing the Sun really is ”useful” for everybody. Some might be better off staying inside the cave. Although if I got Aristotle’s point of view right ’the Sun’ is more like the stars, if the forms were true the one form of the Good would quickly turn to the many.
@Shitgotmegeekin
2 жыл бұрын
@@GregoryBSadler eitherway, I’ll have to re-read it. First time reading Aristotle today and it felt way more intense than the Platonic dialogues I have read previously. Your lectures helped greatly though, thank you Doc!
@GregoryBSadler
2 жыл бұрын
@@Shitgotmegeekin You know, if you're reading the text, Aristotle tells you right there why he finds Plato's form of the good not to be particularly helpful in ethics. He's also crystal clear that most people have screwed up understandings of what happiness is.
@Shitgotmegeekin
2 жыл бұрын
@@GregoryBSadler I know, just thought it was interesting how in my first time reading Aristotle he immediately adresses the main issue I had with the Forms. Maybe I should’ve been clearer about that. English is my third language so it can be a bit difficult expressing everything I want to sometimes.
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