From: Peterfabriani@aol.com
Date: Sat Nov 02 2002 - 11:11:54 GMT
In a message dated 11/2/02 7:51:32 AM GMT Standard Time,
Elizaphanian@members.v21.co.uk writes:
> So basically Nussbaum is arguing that this passage is an anomaly. She
> doesn't deny that Aristotle wrote it (although she says we can't rule out
> forgery) she just doesn't think it's his 'mature' position.
>
> I'm not sure I would agree that Aristotle is trying to encapsulate the
> good.
> He leaves too much room for individual discernment.
Hi Sam,
Two points:
1. Aristotle was not an Athenian, and he had a sense of humour. It may be
that he is saying, 'Well, you lot view me as something less than the social
best, but at least i can get along with my philosophising on the back of your
social efforts to support a society that allows me to do just this.' He may
be doing his sociology bit in the ethics which i know you don't like.
2. Aristotle's Form - Matter Hylomorphism can be seen in a fractal sense, in
that it can be applied at many levels for analytical purposes. Thus, at the
substance level Form is statue while Matter is bronze, at the individual
level, the Form of a human is the soul, and the matter is mere potential
cause. On the Political level, Form is the collective and Matter is the
individual. On the rhetoric level, Form is the structure of narrative while
Matter is the individual letters or words. And so on. In the Grand scheme of
things, Form is the Prime mover while Matter is pure potential; maybe primary
substances like fire and water existing as opposites? Much debate on that
score.
My maine point is that Eudaimonia is full actuality at the level at which the
Form/Matter analytical tool is being applied. This is close to Platt's
introduction of Maslow? But the Form/Matter tool may be applied elsewhere
with interesting results as Aristotle does in his poetics.
Your thesis that Eudaimonia is fourth MoQ level leaks Water in my view, but
then maybe your position is Fire and i am raining on your parade? Sorry! ;)
Peter.
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