Aristotles Views On Human Action
In his book, the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle raises questions about human happiness and what it takes to make a good human life. In his quest for an answer, Aristotle covers a great deal of ground and touches upon a variety of topics that, while not obviously so, tie significantly into to the "happiness" of our daily lives. One of these topics is the distinction between our voluntary actions and our involuntary actions. Book III, chapters 1 and 5 deal specifically with this distinction in a way that is both expository and interesting, using examples to draw the reader into a better understanding of the text. In this paper, I hope to suitably explain the distinction that Aristotle ...
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concepts; tying them into a real-world context of punishment and reward. Also, they provide a leg to stand on when the text becomes too wordy and confusing (not all that rare in Aristotle).
In chapter 1, Aristotle focuses primarily on the involuntary actions of man; giving lengthy consideration to the more specific distinctions that arise. "Those things, then, are thought involuntary, which take place under compulsion or owing to ignorance" (Bk.I, ch. 1, 1109b35). This is the first distinction that is made under the heading of "involuntary" actions. If an action is to be considered involuntary, you must either perform the action under compulsion or out of ignorance. Aristotle states that in both cases, the "moving principle" (motivational force) is outside of the agent, with nothing being contributed by the agent, as "if her were to be carried somewhere by a wind, or by men who had him in their power" (Bk. I, ch. 1, 1110a3).
Though compulsion and ignorance both result in ...
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into an equation: [involuntary action (throwing the ship's rations overboard) + compulsion (terrible storm and a sinking ship) + motivation (staying alive) + choice (will I or wont I?) = voluntary action]. Choice implies that the principle of motion is in the agent, so the action is voluntary; Aristotle does acknowledge, though, that, in the abstract, these actions can be seen as involuntary. Praise or blame may be bestowed on the agent, depending on what was done and for what reason, but more often than not the agent receives forgiveness.
Just as it is a stretch, in Aristotle's view, to call the wish to stave off evil or pain a compulsion, it is "absurd" to propose that so could it be ...
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"Aristotles Views On Human Action." Essayworld.com. July 22, 2008. Accessed November 30, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Aristotles-Views-On-Human-Action/87165.
"Aristotles Views On Human Action." Essayworld.com. July 22, 2008. Accessed November 30, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Aristotles-Views-On-Human-Action/87165.
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