Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online class-introduction to Ethics) - Essay Example

14 January, Response to the discussion about Aristotle You have correctly perceived and interpreted the teaching of Aristotle. I agree to you when you said that every individual has a certain goal in his/her life and that the goal should be positive so that it may benefit the society as a whole in some way. However, I disagree to you when you say that a human being spends whole of his/her life trying to achieve the goal. I think that an individual’s goals are decided and influenced by the circumstances he/she happens to be in at different times in life.

As a result of different experiences, an individual’s goals keep changing over time. There is nothing we can call as “ultimate” goal. 2. I disagree with you when you visualize Aristotle’s opinion as belonging to a different time frame i.e. Greek. I think what he is talking about is one of the most fundamental realities of life that never change with time. However, I completely agree with you when you refer to the “proper function” as “a higher fulfillment of life”. There is no such think as “perfect” in this world.

But we tend to achieve the maximum in the effort of achieving the perfection. Everything has a room for improvement, and therefore, “proper function” should always be visualized as something “higher”. 3. You have made a good attempt to interpret Aristotle’s meaning of “proper function”, though I have slight reservations in accepting particularly when you say that “everything that we as human beings aim at is good”. That is not always the case. What about the robbers and serial killers who aim at killing people for their personal benefits?

When we generalize certain facts for all members of the society, we need to be watchful of all members who positively “and” negatively affect the society. 4. I agree with my classmate when he says that man works hard in order to be appreciated because he wants his excellence to be recognized. People in this world have shared interests. More often than not, people leave no opportunity to make fun of others. Because of the fact that their interests are shared, everybody is in a silent competition with others.

In such a scenario, if at all, any praise ever surfaces, it is pure sarcasm and the praising individual actually means the opposite. It is very rare, for someone to earn true praise and appreciation. Every individual on this Earth is naturally equipped with some degree of excellence, be it very minute, though realization, acknowledgement and encouragement of that excellence is extremely rare to be seen. This culture emerges from the very nature of human beings that we all share. Recognition of excellence is common, but its appreciation is extremely rare.

Therefore, whenever an individual is truly appreciated, it indeed, means a lot to him. In fact, there are many for whom the appreciation and praise means the most of all the worldly blessings. 5. I agree with you when you rightly conceive Aristotle’s assertion that words and intentions must be accompanied with actions in order to bring positive change in the society. However, I disagree with you when you tend to define rationality in the context of criminality. Criminals do possess rational sensitivity, but they do opposite to it.

Works cited: Ostwald, Martin. Nicomachean Ethics. 1999. NJ: Prentice Hall.