Aristotle-LHP 2. Rec: FL 3-4. HWT Sections 1-3 (first catch up from last time)
In CoPhi it's time again for Aristotle. A couple of years ago, on August 30, that serendipitously coincided with the lead-off slot I'd been asked to fill in the Honors Fall Lecture Series [slideshow]. It also coincided with the kickoff of our Environmental Ethics course's discussion of the Kentucky sage Wendell Berry, so I found myself looking for points of intersection between Aristotle and Wendell--specifically on the subjects of friendship and happiness. Having already noticed some affinity between Aristotle and Socrates, I then also detected an Aristotelian strain in the farmer-poet from Port Royal. That again leaves Plato the odd man out... (continues)
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LHP 2
1. What point was Aristotle making when he wrote of swallows and summer? Do you agree?
2. What philosophical difference between Plato and Aristotle is implied by The School of Athens? Whose side are you on, Plato's or Aristotle's?
3. What is eudaimonia, and how can we increase our chances of achieving it, and in relation only to what? Do you think you've achieved it?
4. What reliance is completely against the spirit of Aristotle's research? Are there any authorities you always defer to? Why or why not?
FL
5. What did Sir Walter Raleigh help invent (other than cigarettes) that contributed to "Fantasyland" as we know it today? Was he a "stupid git," as the Beatles song says?
6. What was western civilization's first great ad campaign? Does advertising and the constant attempt to sell things to people have a negative impact on life in the USA?
7. What did Sir Francis Bacon say about human opinion and superstition? Do you ever attempt to overcome your own confirmation bias?
8. Which early settlers are typically ignored in the mythic American origin story? Also: what about the early "settlers" who were brought here against their wills and enslaved?
9. What had mostly ended in Europe, but not America, by the 1620s, and what did the Puritans think would happen "any minute now"? Why do you think people keep making this mistake?
HWT
10. What is pratyaksa in classic Indian philosophy, and how does the Upanishads say to seek it?
11. There is widespread belief in India that the practice of yoga can lead to what? Do you think it can?
12. What is metanoetics, in Japanese philosophy?
13. What does ineffable mean? Is it possible, though paradoxical, to use words to indicate something you can't put into words?
14. Unlike the west, religion in Japan is typically not about what? And what is it about to you?
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Aristotle on slavery and the subjugation of women
Aristotle was generally a brilliant ethicist, BUT…
"Aristotle wrote Europe's greatest foundational works of ethics and politics, but only in the context of free Greek males: everyone else was of a lesser nature. This meant women, of course, but also those he categorized as naturally born for enslavement. The way to identify such a person, according to Aristotle, was this: "Someone is . . . a slave by nature if he is capable of becoming the property of another (and for this reason does actually become another's property) and if he participates in reason to the extent of apprehending it in another, though destitute of it himself." This last clause was mainly to distinguish enslaved people from non-human animals, who could not even recognize reason when they saw it. With that proviso, the main point here was that you could spot those who were meant to be enslaved from the fact that they were currently enslaved. For them, clearly, "the condition of slavery is both beneficial and just." Aristotle further clarified the situation by comparing enslavement to the equally natural dominance of men over women. Aristotle's "slave nature" theory was used to justify centuries of later exploitation."
— Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope by Sarah Bakewell
"Aristotle wrote Europe's greatest foundational works of ethics and politics, but only in the context of free Greek males: everyone else was of a lesser nature. This meant women, of course, but also those he categorized as naturally born for enslavement. The way to identify such a person, according to Aristotle, was this: "Someone is . . . a slave by nature if he is capable of becoming the property of another (and for this reason does actually become another's property) and if he participates in reason to the extent of apprehending it in another, though destitute of it himself." This last clause was mainly to distinguish enslaved people from non-human animals, who could not even recognize reason when they saw it. With that proviso, the main point here was that you could spot those who were meant to be enslaved from the fact that they were currently enslaved. For them, clearly, "the condition of slavery is both beneficial and just." Aristotle further clarified the situation by comparing enslavement to the equally natural dominance of men over women. Aristotle's "slave nature" theory was used to justify centuries of later exploitation."
— Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope by Sarah Bakewell
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Aristotle on the work of a human being
"If we posit the work of a human being as a certain life, and this is an activity of soul and actions accompanied by reason, the work of a serious person is to do these things well and nobly. …But, in addition, in a complete life. For one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one day. And in this way, one day or a short time does not make someone blessed and happy either."
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"Beyond the reach of social anxiety"
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You wouldn't worry so much about what other people think of you, if you realized how seldom they do."
"...in order to feel social anxiety, you have to believe that other people’s negative opinions of you are worth getting upset about, that it’s really bad if they dislike you and really important to win their approval. Even people who suffer from severe social anxiety disorder (social phobia) tend to feel “normal” when speaking to children or to their close friends about trivial matters, with a few exceptions. Nevertheless, they feel highly anxious when talking to people they think are very important about subjects they think are very important. If your fundamental worldview, by contrast, assumes that your status in the eyes of others is of negligible importance, then it follows that you should be beyond the reach of social anxiety."
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius by Donald J. Robertson
#H1
ReplyDeleteLHP 2
1. Aristotle was utilizing figurative speech of swallows and summers to connect to his overall idea that one instance of joy or pleasure is not in any way true happiness. Happiness to Aristotle was not a short term process, which coincides why he believed children could not be happy. They can only have so many " warm days and swallows". I agree with Aristotle because pleasure is usually short term and many times selfish. In my mind humans can only experience true happiness when they have a purpose beyond pleasure and virtue rules one's life.
4. The reliance that is completely against the spirit of Aristotle would be appealing to authority. His work is clearly against this as he advocated for research, reasoning, and investigation. I usually defer to those above me when I have zero experience in any field. I will read over and analyze their work, and then I will reason in my mind if I agree or disagree. Better to be a skeptic than someone who obeys out of ignorance.
3. Eudaimonia is a way of life where one can experience "flourishing" or "success" in their achievements of life. Aristotle claimed to experience this one must develop the right kind of character. This included feeling the right emotions and behaving well to increase our chances. I myself have not achieved this because I disagree with Aristotle's idea of eudaimonia in the aspect that one is truly happy from achievements or luck. His theory on virtue however is brilliant and I am intrigued to dive deeper into his idea of a happy medium between two opposites.
It's difficult not to deal with the extremes when it comes to the credibility of authority. In my opinion, the value of authority all depends on the nature of the argument. If the dispute is over factual information that is not clear or is not common knowledge, it makes sense to listen to someone who knows more about that subject than you do. However, when there are agreed upon facts that are taken to be true by both sides of the argument, and it is simply the conclusion about these facts that is called into question, it makes sense not to give any greater weight to the words of someone in authority, because you don't necessarily need more factual information in that case, you simply have to reason your way through. It's also worth noting that, of course, even when the conflict is about facts rather than conclusions, it is still possible for people to lie, omit certain details, etc.
DeleteH01
ReplyDeleteLHP 2:
#1 He was making the point that happiness, in his view, had to be built up over a long period of time in a person's life, and that temporary pleasures by themselves do no qualify as happiness. To me, this seems like it may simply be an issue of semantics. We can call temporary pleasure "happiness" or we can call a long, fulfilling, satisfying period of life "happiness." It doesn't really matter. All that matters is that we understand that these two things are different, though possibly related.
LHP 2:
#2 The difference implied between Aristotle and Plato is their basic view of what is important and useful. Plato believed in the Forms, and essentially thought that the purest philosophical value could be drawn from the ideal version of things, while Aristotle preferred to interact with the real world (Warburton 10). In my opinion, neither of these two philosophies that is intrinsically better than the other. It all depends on the context.
Warburton, Nigel. A LITTLE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY. Yale University Press, 2012.
#H02
ReplyDeleteLHP-2-
Ans-2:
Of course, Raphael's painting implies the philosophical difference between Aristotle and Plato. In the "School of Athens," Plato is portrayed as someone pointing upwards, symbolizing his belief in the existence of higher potential/power/realm of perfect forms of ideals. His belief was that materialistic things were just a shade of higher reality.
On the other hand, Aristotle is shown as someone pointing towards the Earth. He believes knowledge comes from empirical observation and experience in this materialistic world. He just believed that one must study the natural world to understand the truth and reality.
It is definitely a tough choice to decide whose side I'm on! I believe that sometimes in life, we must accept things and focus on the higher power to discover reality. At the same time, other times, I feel that it is what it is, and hence, observing the natural world and how everything is, in reality, gives me a better idea of how to understand truth.
But upon pondering deeply into whose side I agree with, I think I'll go with Plato because there have been times in my life when I just gave up after trying hard and started believing in the power of the higher and began to discover the hidden truth of reality.
LHP-3-
Ans-3:
Eudaimonia is a Greek term meaning "Happiness" or "Welfare". It simply means living well or living happily. Aristotle referred to Eudaimonia as residing in the highest form of happiness and achieving one's full potential.
To increase our living potential, he suggests that we engage in activities involving intellectual growth, strive to use our talent to the fullest extent and cultivate great values such as wisdom, courage, and temperance. Living a life to seek excellence and virtue rather than focusing on materialistic wealth or pleasure is all that he really means.
I think I have not yet achieved it, but I'm striving hard to achieve it every day. Every day is a lesson for me! I learn about people, discover their nature, learn about sorrows, discover harsh realities, and essentially grow to become the best version of myself. Acquiring eudaimonia is a lifelong process for me, and I'll strive to achieve it until the day I die.
Maheswari Ramesh
(Maahi)
I really like that you interpret Raphael's painting and convey it to the differences that Plato and Aristotle had in their views. Plato has a point of letting higher power guide you along the way of life and reality and I believe in a higher power monitoring what we do, but I have to say that I also think we can create our own pathway to life, reality and happiness through observation, analysis and reasoning. It takes a lot of courage to give your life into the hands of a higher power that is why I sided with Aristotle on this matter. I agree with you on the Eudaimonia topic, I think too that as of right now it is very difficult for us achieving that in our fast-paced life. It takes a lot of time living up to Aristotle's virtues and values to eventually achieve Eudaimonia.
Delete#H02
ReplyDeleteFL-7-
Ans-7:
Sir Francis Bacon says that human opinion and superstition are often intertwined, leading people to accept false beliefs and ignore evidence that contradicts their preconceived notions. Hence, Bacon emphasizes the importance of rational thinking, questioning, and empirical evidence to overcome false thoughts and biases.
Yes! I often attempt to overcome my false thoughts and beliefs as soon as I realize I am wrong. But this process is actually more challenging to overcome than said because, as humans, we are intertwined with ideas and perceptions that we have already fixed in our minds. To suddenly look at the same thing from a completely different angle requires courage and extraordinary spirit. First, realizing mistakes and false beliefs and then accepting them is extremely difficult, especially if it involves emotions and bonding. Nevertheless, I had some courage to approach the "It is what it is the approach," and I feel proud of it.
FL-9-
Ans-9:
By the 1600s, intense religious fervor and expectations that had characterized different parts of Europe had mostly ended. However, in America, especially among Puritans, there were still beliefs of the second coming of Jesus Christ and that it could happen at any minute.
People often fall into the trap of predicting that the world's end is just around the corner. This happened because of strong religious beliefs, a craving for certainty during uncertain times, and our natural tendency to find patterns and meaning in the events around us. This way of thinking can give people a sense of purpose and urgency, but it also leads to a cycle of high expectations and inevitable disappointment when those predictions don’t come true.
People keep making this mistake because of psychological comfort, which is referred to as the tendency to not accept reality and live in a fantasyland. People also avoid the truth because of religious beliefs. Sometimes, humans tend to see specific patterns around them to believe in the uncertainty of certain things.
Maheswari Ramesh (Maahi)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteH2
DeleteLHP 2
1 Aristotle was trying to make the point that a few moments of pleasure don’t equal true happiness, much like a few swallows in the sky don’t symbolize summer. I agree with this, that someone can have an overall depressing life but still be able to have happy moments although their life as a whole is the opposite of happy.
2 The difference between Plato and Aristotle that is implied by The School of Athens is that Plato philosophizes by thinking, while Aristotle philosophizes by looking towards the world around him. Aristotle understood that the only way to truly understand something is to experience and examine it.
3 Eudaimonia meant flourishing or success that one’s life should achieve instead of happiness. Eudaimonia refers to more of sensations or feelings of excitement when things happen in the moment, instead of a long-term feeling of happiness or satisfaction. We can increase our chances of achieving eudaimonia by “Developing the right kind of character” in order to “feel the right emotions at the right times in order to behave well,” and can only be achieved “in relation to life in a society.” I don’t believe that I’ve achieved it, simply because I feel as if I haven’t had enough time to achieve it in my lifespan.
H1
ReplyDelete1 Aristotle was saying that you cannot experience happiness to be happy. A single moment of being happy is not enough to label yourself as a happy person. He goes on to say that children are not happy, which is where I disagree. I believe that children are happier than most adults, because there is not subjectiveness to it. They are not happy in relation to their finances, or their hardest moments, or their independence, but because they just are.
2 The philosophical difference implied by this picture is that Plato prefers to reflect, whilst Aristotle prefers to experience. I am with Aristotle, because they say that seeing is believing. By just basing off of ideals, you may get it all wrong.
3 Eudaimonia means flourishing and success. We can increase our chances of having it by nurturing ourselves, but it is affected even after our death by what happens to those we care for, so it also comes down to luck. I think that there is zero chance at all that I have achieved this.
4 The reliance on Aristotle's authority went directly against his philosophy. I have a hard time trusting people just because of their authority, which is both often good and often bad. I will listen, but so many times I have found an authority in something to be wrong at a later time. I take it all with a grain of salt.
H01
ReplyDeleteLHP
When Aristotle stated, “one swallow does not make summer,” he meant that small pleasures in life, no matter the quantity, do not equate to a happy life. I agree with Aristotle’s view on happiness, fleeting pleasures are only there for a moment, they do not create a happy life. Of course, people will have happy phases and events in their life, but this does not mean that they are a part of a path to fulfillment. However, I must add that I do not think a happy life is made through only achievements. Life is too complicated to describe its quality based on achievements, it is a complex mix of emotions, experiences, achievements, and interactions.
3. Eudaimonia is a Greek term Aristotle used to summarize what it meant to live a good life. For him, a good life was made through living through reason and fostering one’s virtues. One can increase their chances of achieving eudaimonia by developing good habits and being a generally good person (though “good” is still questioned to this day). Since I am still so young and developing my own character, I cannot say that I have achieved eudaimonia.
4. Aristotle’s research was against the reliance on authorities, for he felt that authority alone does not prove anything. There is no singular authority I defer from, but I am always skeptical of what authorities (or people of any kind that people put on a pedestal) tell the masses, such as journalists, influencers, or politicians. Sadly, I believe that many publishing companies, influencers and news broadcasters share deceitful reports/stories for profit rather than genuine care for the people.
I also agree with your take on Aristotle's view, but I disagree with your statement in which fulfillment isn't the primary source of happiness. I think Aristotle's point was that emotion is less important than impact. All happiness in Aristotle's mind was just a moment of pleasure that didn't truly mean anything. How Aristotle defined happiness was impact and achievement. He believed satisfaction with ones life was ultimately the truest happiness that there was, because satisfaction never faded.
Delete#H1 - Zoe Kuhn
ReplyDeleteLHP 2 - #1
When Aristotle wrote swallows and summer, what he meant by that is with a moment of happiness or joy, you can get temporary pleasure but it cannot equal true happiness that is long term. Aristotle even argued that even children couldn’t be truly happy because their entire early beginning of life is about small moments of joy and he believed that to have long-term happiness, you needed to live a full enough life. I agree with Aristotle when he says that a couple of joyful moments do not equate to lifelong happiness. I also agree that for true lifelong happiness, you need to have lived a long life to eventually achieve this. Additionally, while I understand his point of view about children and their short-lived happy moments, I do think that they feel happiness either way but since they are so young, they don’t know better or know the difference between their short happy moments versus long-term happiness.
FL - #5
Sir Walter Raleigh helped invent a type of pseudo-empiricism that would become a staple for “Fantasyland” testimonials that revolved around important issues like conspiracy and religion. I don’t think he was quite exactly the fool everyone believed him to be because he did invent things that are still seen today and are still contributing to “Fantasyland”.
LHP 2 - #3
Eudaimonia is a Greek word that Aristotle used in his philosophy and technically means either “success” or “flourishing”. Put into context eudaimonia is sort of like what I interpreted as “contentment”, it’s how we decide who we want to be, how we wish to grow, and what will bring us the most contentment in our lives. In addition, Aristotle believed that you could increase your chances of achieving eudaimonia by developing the right kind of habits and emotions, in relation to the development of the right kind of character. If we develop the right character, then it will affect our eudaimonia more positively. I think that since I am still young in my life, my eudaimonia is still changing as I get older and grow. I like to think that I have developed a good character but I also feel like I’m too young in my life to officially say I’ve achieved eudaimonia because I am still learning, changing, and growing throughout the years.
#H02
ReplyDeleteLHP 2
#1 - Aristotle compared swallows in summer to happiness in life. He says that "One swallow doesn't make a summer," him meaning that small boosts of (what we may consider happiness) pleasure does not lead to a happy or fulfilling life. For true happiness to Aristotle meant living a full life of "flourishing" or "success". I happen to disagree with this statement. While I do find it beneficial to live a full life of "eudaimonia", I still believe that children for instance, can experience moments of happiness. Aristotle on the other hand did not think so because children have not lived long enough to experience happiness. I personally believe that there are different forms of happiness in both the short term form and long term form.
#2 - The School of Athens implies that Aristotle believed that people could be educated to learn philosophy. This directly contradicts his teacher Plato's belief that only a select few could be philosophers. Plato believed that that small group should be the ruling class of society. I think that Aristotle's idea that people can be taught philosophy makes more sense, as by engaging in and exploring the world (as Aristotle preferred) people can think more deeply about subjects and begin to develop their own stances that might be built upon the teachings of others.
#3 - Eudaimonia is a Greek word that Aristotle used to represent happiness. Instead of short-term, fleeting feelings of pleasure, this word more so means "success" or "flourishing" over a long-term period. To achieve this eudaimonia, series of choices must be made spanning one's entire life. These choices often determine our character, what type of person we are, our values, and beliefs. Because I believe eudaimonia to be something worth striving for over an entire lifespan, I do not believe that I am close to achieving it. I feel that I am quite young in my life and that I should continue to strive for eudaimonia, and the question of whether I have achieved it or not should be saved for later. A more appropriate question for this time now may be something along the lines of "Am I on the right path towards eudaimonia?".
#4 - Reliance on the authority of others contradicts Aristotle's philosophy, since Aristotle preferred to explore the world for his own self, rather than rely on what others would say. I tend to defer to my own prior knowledge as an authority simply because I had "known the truth earlier", even if someone else had disproved my prior knowledge.
H02
ReplyDeleteLHP 1- When Aristotle wrote about the swallows in summer his point was that events don't truly signify large scale concepts. He does this to say that happiness is not about pleasurable moments but is achieved through living a good life overall. It encourages people to look at the big picture of their life.
LHP 3- Eudaimonia is living a happy life and Aristotle believed that the best way to achieve Eudaimonia was to be a better person in relation to society. He thought that having a good upbringing was a massive boost in your chances to achieve Eudaimonia. I don't think that I have achieved Eudaimonia yet because I'm simply too young to. Aristotle himself says that children cannot be happy as they haven't lived long enough to build Eudaimonia.
LHP 4- Reliance on authority is one of the things that contradicts all that Aristotle and Socrates stood for. The idea of taking the ideas of a human as 100% true would make them roll in their graves. The only authority I could see myself deferring to morally would be the Christian God, but on that same thought what God teaches can also be seen in practice as morally good. Of course completely based on knowledge I would say defer to a doctor or lawyer if you were in a scenario where that knowledge would be detrimental to fail.
H02
ReplyDeleteLHP #1- The point Aristotle was making when he wrote of swallows and summer is that signs of summer do not signify the actual season. This connected to the idea that moments of happiness do not mean an overall state of happiness, which leads into the discussion of eudaimonia. I do agree with this notion; I may enjoy certain moments in my life, but that does not mean I have reached an overall state of true happiness. These moments are contributing to a larger and long term state.
LHP #3- Aristotle described the overall concept of true happiness with the word eudaimonia. To him it meant obtaining a fulfilling life long-term, developing positive behavioral habits, and having a good relationship with the rest of society. Humans increase their chances of reaching this state if these principles are prioritized over the course of their life. Personally, I do not believe I have reached Aristotle's eudaimonia because although I have lived through many pleasurable moments, I have not lived long enough to claim that for myself. Additionally, I don't think it is about when eudaimonia will be reached, but if you are setting yourself up to achieve it throughout the entirety of your life and even during death.
LHP #4- The reliance on authority goes completely against Aristotle's research and against philosophy as a whole. This reliance simply means taking something as truth because a person of importance or power said it, regardless of what proof there may be. In almost any circumstance I see myself fact checking and doing my own research; I choose to take authoritorial information as guidance or suggestions. Perhaps I lean more towards the idea of never stop asking questions, there are always other sides to the supposed "truth".
H03
ReplyDelete(Personal comment)
1. Near the end of the LHP 2 reading, it talks about how many of Aristotle's views were wholly and uncritically accepted by future scholars, and how that was bad for human progress and philosophy. In the approximate spirit of that, I am skeptical of the idea that things outside of your knowledge can contribute to your eudaimonia. I understand that the point of the example is to show how eudaimonia is greater than just raw feelings of happiness or pleasure, that it's about both the seen and unseen effects that your character has on others, but practically speaking it seems...unhelpful. Even though eudaimonia is described as something greater than just feeling, I believe that it still is a perceptual concept, it can be experienced. Therefore, when things happen that are outside my perception, any discussion surrounding my eudaimonic value and how it is being affected seems pointless to me, because I'm the only one that can experience such changes. Since it's personal and specific to me, if I'm not experiencing them, how can anything be altered? I guess it's a bit of a 'tree falls in the woods but no one's around to hear it' kind of scenario?
(LHP 2, Question 1)
2. Aristotle was making the point that individual moments of pleasure or joy do not amount to a joyful or fulfilling life, which I absolutely agree with. While I think those short-term moments are still important and can be the building blocks towards living a good life, they're not everything. This is demonstrably true through the fact that you can receive great news in the morning and have quite a positive outlook as a result, only to then receive disasterous news later in the day and feel majorly disheartened. These events are (maybe) uncontrollable, and don't cancel each other out into a neutral view like a math problem, you feel both in turn. The only thing we can control in these situations is our own reaction.
(LHP 2, Question 2)
The implication of Raphael's painting is that Plato was more concerned with theory and Aristotle was more interested in 'physical' exploration of reality. I think both approaches have their merits and are important, but I lean more towards Aristotle's methodology as someone who generally likes to engage with pragmatism. I think I find philosophies that give concretely actionable advice or perspectives more helpful, and so Aristotle's way of engaging with complex thoughts is closer to my own than Plato's.
For LHP Q2 I also leaned more towards Aristotle's methodology. I think it is important to look at things for what they truly are rather than just see the Form of what it's "supposed" to be.
DeleteH01
ReplyDeleteLHP #1- When Aristotle wrote of swallows and summer, he was comparing the slow and collective arrival of summer to the measurement of a good life. Summer does not burst through the door and replace spring, it comes sneakily through the window, living with spring until one day the cool weather is gone. Comparitively, the total measure of a person's happiness, their eudaimonia, is slow and additive. One moment of pleasure does not equal happiness, such that one swallow does not equal summer. I agree that this comparison explains his philisophy, but I don't believe the same as him about the meaning of happiness. I find happiness to be a much smaller concept, and found in those little moments of pleasure. I don't agree that the life of a person is a measurement of anything, or that "human beings have a function". It's conflicting though, because I do value having good moral character and improving ourselves, but not for some end goal or level of achievement. Happiness is not achievement to me. I believe much more in living day to day, experiencing things as they come, as opposed to living to have this abstract concept of a "good life".
LHP #2- The School of Athens painting implied that the main difference between the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle was their "direction" of of study. Plato believed that the truth of the world lay in the abstract, the unobservable, and so he never examined the physical world. Conversely, Aristotle believed examining the physical world was the only way to truly understand it. The Form of something was unimportant compared to the real examples you would encounter in actual life. I agree entirely with Aristotle on this matter. So much of my own philosophies and beliefs are based in the natural, physical world, that it really seems absurd to me to be compelled in the opposite direction. We are natural, physical beings, and everything important to me is down here on the ground. You'll miss so much if you're only looking up.
FL #7- Sir Francis Bacon wrote about the intense grip our opinions have on us as humans and how strongly we accept support or refuse dissent. It's almost intrinsic, the way he put it, how valiently we can diminish or ignore something that goes against our beliefs. Grand convictions make us complacent, which is ignorant in a world of rapid changes. Superstitions were the same way to him, that people quickly jump to prove them and run to avoid disproving them. Every little sign means they are right but their are blinders to the more common signs that they are wrong. I think this is undeniably true. I think we all suffer from this strain of close-mindedness in different areas of our beliefs, mostly because we all have that one truth that would break us if it were to be proven wrong. We're quietly terrified all the time. That explains it, but it doesn't excuse it though. Change and challenge and remaking are the way of life, and we have to except it, or we'll never truly see the world for what it could be.
I like what you said about having that "one truth that would break us." Sometimes, when you devote so much time and energy to believing and advocating and arguing for one particular thing, it becomes even more difficult to admit you were wrong. Also, sometimes, it can be hard to admit mistakes because you feel like it is a loss of trust in yourself, and I could see how this would be the case when it comes to beliefs.
Delete#HO2, Alan Hernandez
ReplyDeleteLHP
#1 - Aristotle's point when he wrote of swallows and summer was that it takes more than one swallow to show that summer has arrived. In other words, it takes more than a few parts to demonstrate evidence for a whole. Aristotle used the example of happiness, stating that happiness isn't shown by just a few instances of pleasure. I do agree with this statement because in my personal experience, there were many instances where I had great days but didn't feel happy overall. I have seen attitudes like that in other people.
#2 - The School of Athens implies that Plato looked at reality in the broader scope while Aristotle looked at the reality right in front of him. I prefer Aristotle's way of thinking, I think that it is more beneficial to have experienced a lot of the world rather than reflecting on it. I do, however, respect Plato's abstract way of looking at topics.
#3 - Eudaimonia is the success or flourishment of someone, rather than the feeling of happiness. Aristotle thought that to increase your chances of eudaimonia, one must build up their character by making the correct choices and gaining admirable traits. I do not believe I have reached Eudaimonia because I believe to fully develop good virtues, it requires a great amount of experience and time. I have only lived for 17 years, and I hope to be able to make the correct choices.
H03
ReplyDeleteLHP #1- In his statement, "One swallow does not make summer," Aristotle suggests that temporary pleasures, no matter how numerous, do not lead to a truly happy life. I agree with Aristotle's perspective on happiness because fleeting pleasures only provide temporary satisfaction and do not contribute to long-term fulfillment. While people may experience moments of contentment and success, these do not necessarily lead to lasting happiness. I believe life is too complex to be evaluated solely based on achievements.
LHP #2- Plato engages in philosophy through contemplation, whereas Aristotle approaches it by observing his environment. Aristotle recognized that genuine understanding of something can only be attained through firsthand experience and examination.
LPH #3- Eudaimonia is a Greek term that means "happiness" or "welfare." It refers to living well or living happily. Aristotle believed that Eudaimonia is the highest form of happiness and involves achieving one's full potential. To increase our potential for living well, he suggests engaging in activities that promote intellectual growth, using our talents to the fullest, and cultivating values such as wisdom, courage, and temperance. Aristotle emphasizes that living a life focused on excellence and virtue, rather than worldly wealth or pleasure, is the key to Eudaimonia. I have not achieved it yet, but I believe I'm on the right path.
1. A key point Aristotle was making when he wrote of swallows and summer was actually an explanation to his son regarding how one moment of pleasure does not equate to true happiness. Aristotle did not measure happiness in short-term joys. I agree with Aristotle that one brief moment of pleasure does not equal true happiness. One lick of ice cream or one bite of a hot glazed doughnut does not satisfy a craving; they only ignite the desire. When the last bites are finally consumed, gratification radiates throughout the senses. However, I disagree with Aristotle's thoughts about children and happiness because I have seen little kids light up at seeing Santa at the mall. True happiness does not require a longer life as evidenced by any little boy who finally gets that much coveted puppy on Christmas morning.
ReplyDelete3. Eudaimonia is often translated as "flourishing" or "success" instead of "happiness." Eudaimonia does not refer to short term moments of joy or your feelings, but the ideas regarding a fulfilled life. Aristotle's idea of eudaimonia requires lots of good luck. According to Aristotle, we increase our chances of eudaimonia when we develop the right kind of character. This requires feeling the right emotions at the right time and when this occurs, we will respond by behaving well. This is all based on how we were raised because the best way to develop good habits is through continuous practice from an early age since good patterns of behavior are virtues (for example, using manners) while bad habits are vices (for example, cursing). Do I think I have achieved eudaimonia at 18 years of age? Probably not. I am a work in progress. Obviously, I have had moments of success, but I have also had some setbacks. A prime example of my success would be earning a rare conservation award. There are numerous setbacks, but I won't dwell on those here. Failure builds character. History provides a long list of failures - Einstein, Ford, Michael Jordan, and many others have failed, but they all tried again. Instead of dwelling on the bad, I firmly believe it is important to let go of the past and keep moving forward.
4. Because Aristotle was brilliant and provided thorough research, many believed he was right about everything and as a result, this hindered the progression of philosophy because it did not allow for independent thoughts or ideas from just anyone. If Aristotle said it, it was believed to be "truth in authority" so no one questioned it because an important "authority" figure said it. Relying on someone else's authority is completely against the spirit of Aristotle's research as well as the spirit of philosophy because authority does not prove anything by itself. Aristotle's methods included investigation, research, and clear reasoning. Philosophy requires debate and exploring alternative views as well as critical thinking. One authority I tend to defer to is Ms. Pat, who teaches the children's sermon at my church. Ms. Pat is a retired teacher who loves children, but never married. She is close to 80 years old and is very much a national treasure. I don't think she would ever give bad advice to me and I know she is always on my side without being judgmental. I know she always wants what is best for me.
H02
ReplyDelete1. The meaning of the swallow and summer analogy that Aristotle provides is a way to show that even though you might see one swallow, it does not mean that it is summer time. This is because the swallow is a bird that is typically seen in the summertime, and seeing the bird might make you think that it is summer time even though it might not be. This can be applied to happiness and life. Even though you may feel happy in the moment, it does not mean that you have lived or are living a happy life. I agree with this thinking and personally think of it as endearing. If think you have lived a happy life just based on how you feel then you can not truly live a fulfilled and joyous life.
2. The philosophical differences that are implied between that of Plato and Aristotle are ones of perception and thought. While on one hand, Plato is an avid supporter of Socrates way of thinking when it came to question everything and not look in terms of objective reality. Aristotle on the other hand was a believer in looking at ones environment and drawing conclusions based on perception and not by thought. The School of Athens is a way to see the deviated thinking of the two by how Aristotle was able to write and visually provide for his students, unlike Plato. I personally agree more with Aristotle's ideas and ways of thinking, as I feel it is more productive to be based in objective reality than to question and ponder the unknown.
3. Eudaimonia is the idea that true happiness is not a feeling, but a sum total of your life and what you have done. The way to achieve it is by being the best character that you possibly can and having the most positive impact of the world and the people you care about the most. The only way to increase the chance of having it is either by the way your were brought up by your parents or by improving your character in relation to yourself and what you believe in. I myself do not think that I have achieved this, but I one day hope to.
4. The reliance on authority is completely against what Aristotle taught. Simply believing what an authoritative figure said simple because of their status completely undermines the teachings of Aristotle and philosophy as a whole. The authorities that I tend to defer to though would be ones of credible sources and proven ones. I don't tend to listen to people that are inconsistent or have had something bad about them in the past. This is because I don't trust their true motives and intentions of what they say.
#H03
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1. Aristotle meant that seeing one swallow was not an indicator of the summer arriving yet, because it is just a small indictator which could be just a randomly warm day. He says this to help emphasize his point that happiness is not just a moment of pleasure. I agree with Aristotle on this point because just like there are oddly warm days in winter there can be moments if not days of pleasure without it being longterm and by no means does that alone indicate happiness.
2. The philosophical differences that are implied are that Plato philosophied without focusing much on the tangible world, because he was focused on abstract thinking, unlike Aristotle who used his physical senses and perception of the world to philosophize. I do not pick a side in this because I believe both beliefs have merit. For starters I agree with Plato that are senses cannot be fully trusted since our reality is unique to ourselves, yet I find it hard to not want to explore the world with our own senses even if it is just our brains imitation of reality.
4. Reliance on the authority of others is against the spirit of Aristotle because it leads to conformity with what is supposedly known rather than fostering a spirit of learning. This can stunt the growth of society by discouraging curiosity and thus progress. As for myself there is no authority I defer to because at the end of the day nobody is perfect and it is quite boring to follow an authority figure when there are so many possibilities we can create ourselves.
#H01
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1.Aristotle meant that one swallow did not mean summer was coming or that one warm day meant that summer was coming. His point was that it takes time and experience to attain happiness. I agree with Aristotle because to attain full happiness, it takes time.
2. The philosophical difference between Plato and Aristotle are implied that Aristotle wanted to explore the reality we experience through our senses, he was more modern than plato was. Plato was fine with sitting back and philosophizing from a distance. He was more of an abstract think unlike Aristotle. I would say I am more on Aristotles side, I also think that going out and experiencing life will make you see this reality better.
Evan Burrell
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1. The point Aristotle is trying to make is that experiencing one good thing in life is not enough to achieve happiness just as the arrival of one Swallow does not indicate the arrival of summer. That it takes continued effort over a lifetime to achieve happiness. I don't agree. Is happiness measurable? Is contentment measurable? Is fulfillment measurable? Can it be? If it can then Aristotle would be correct as there would an achievable, measurable number of things to do in life that could let you gain happiness, but I think this isn't the case. Happiness means different things for different people, some people will live a conventionally fulfilling life but die feeling empty inside, but some people might see a swallow and it will make their whole summer.
3. From my understanding, Eudaimonia is an idea of your success in life. Aristotle seemed to think that you could achieve this by both yourself and the things that you care about doing well in relation to what society generally considers to be doing well. Aristotle said that Eudaimonia can only be achieved in relation to life in a society. I don't think I've achieved it, but also, I don't think anybody can. If Eudaimonia is achievable and it can be affected by events that I don't know about or after I die, that suggests my Eudaimonia can be revoked or my progress toward it can be injured as if it were a measurable substance with a clear goal to achieve a certain amount. If that is true, then I feel that too many bad things happen in the world to things and people I care about in order for me to get to the goal of Eudaimonia. If it weren't affected by things I don't know about then I think I would have achieved it.
4. The reliance on someone else's authority was against the spirit of Aristotle's research. I don't tend to defer to authorities until I'm given proof that what they're saying is true. I trust my own judgement and authority more than I should and this causes me to question others often.
I really appreciate your input on the first question, asking whether happiness, fulfillment, and contentment can be quantified. It makes me wonder since Aristotle believed that happiness was something you gathered over a lifetime through experiences, would he have thought happiness to be measurable? And if so, how exactly would he measure it?
DeleteI also really like your take on measuring happiness. I think that Aristotle was weighing out the value of different kinds of happiness. Most things which make people happy on earth eventually decease or flee at some point. All forms of happiness appeared to be temporary to Aristotle. Ultimately after searching he finally found a form of pleasure and happiness that could never be taken from him, which was satisfaction with what he had achieved in the past. That type of happiness was the "true happiness" to Aristotle because it was the only kind of pleasure he found that was never fleeing.
DeleteAnswer LHP-1: The point he was making is that true happiness is not something that can be achieved through simple moments of pleasure or success. Just as a single swallow does not signify the arrival of summer, a single good day or moment does not constitute a life of happiness. Instead, Aristotle argued that true happiness is about living a virtuous and balanced life over a long period. It is the result of consistently practicing virtues and engaging in rational activities that fulfill our human potential. Happiness, for Aristotle, is a cumulative state that arises from a lifetime of virtuous living, rather than a temporary or momentary experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aristotle's point. True happiness or fulfillment in life is not about short-lived moments of joy but is about the continuous development of good character, meaningful relationships, and the pursuit of a purpose that aligns with one's values.
Answer LHP-2: Plato believed in an ideal world of perfect Forms or Ideas that could only be accessed through reason and philosophical thought. Aristotle, on the other hand, believed that knowledge begins with the senses and that we should study the natural world to understand reality. I lean more towards Aristotle’s side because I believe in the importance of observation and the study of the natural world. Understanding reality involves not only contemplating ideal concepts but also examining and engaging with the tangible, material aspects of life. Aristotle’s approach seems more practical and grounded, especially in a modern context where science and research play a crucial role in understanding the world.
Answer LHP-3: Eudaimonia is a Greek term that Aristotle uses to describe the highest human good, or "true happiness.” For Aristotle, eudaimonia is not just a feeling of pleasure but a state of living in accordance with virtue and living up to one's potential as a rational being. It involves living a life of moral and intellectual virtues, where one's actions are aligned with reason and purpose. According to Aristotle, we can increase our chances of achieving eudaimonia by: Cultivating virtue, engaging in rational activities, finding the golden mean and building good habits. Eudaimonia is achieved in relation to virtue and reason. It is about living in a way that fulfills our unique human capacity for rational thought and action. Aristotle argues that this requires a lifetime of dedication to moral living and rational reflection. I cannot have achieved eudaimonia yet because it is a lifelong journey to living up to virtues and reason your entire life. To me “true happiness” according to Aristotle is barely possible to achieve for people that do not devote themselves to achieving it and who simply live life and try to be happy on their own without this guidance.
Answer LHP-4: Aristotle's philosophy was grounded in observation, rational inquiry, and practical wisdom. Aristotle believed that knowledge should be derived from careful observation of the world and logical reasoning rather than accepting ideas simply because they are proclaimed by an authority. Unquestioning reliance such as following religious texts, traditional beliefs, or even the teachings of a respected philosopher without critical examination, would be against the spirit of Aristotle's research. Aristotle valued independent thinking and encouraged seeking knowledge through personal experience, observation and analysis. While experts and authorities provide valuable knowledge, their ideas should be examined and questioned to ensure they hold up to rational reason and evidence. I believe Aristotle’s approach is the way to go for people today, especially with all the propaganda and news media on the internet.
I agree with your take on "true happiness" It is not just a few moments of it that creates the life, but a continuous and cognitive push to have goof character and fulfill your emptiness with things that bring that happiness to you.
Delete#H01
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1. The point that Aristotle was trying to make by saying that one swallow does not make the summer is that it takes more than a few good moments or experiences to attain true happiness. I do agree with Aristotle as I do believe that one cannot achieve true hippieness through a few good times, but to add on I do not think that one can achieve true happiness solely through experiences.
2. The painting "The School of Athens" by Raphael implies that Plato was philosophizing more in theory while Aristotle was more of a philosopher in terms of physical experience. I believe more in Aristotle's point of view, as without the physical experience, the wisdom gained from philosophy cannot be used and tested to see that it is actual wisdom and not just knowledge.
3. Eudaimonia is a feeling of flourishing or success, we can increase our chances of feeling eudaimonia by nurturing ourselves in the sense that we give ourselves the right kind of character so that we can feel the right feelings at the right moments. Aristotle's belief is that how one is brought up can contribute to how easy it is to reach eudaimonia, as it is easier to learn and change habits when one is still young. He also believe that eudaimonia could only be achieved in relation to ones life in a society, as we need to interact well with others to achieve eudaimonia. I believe that I have not yet reached eudaimonia, as it will take more time and experience to feel truly accomplished with my life, possibly later in life I will feel more achieved and accomplished that that which I feel now and will eventually obtain the feeling of eudaimonia.
4. The reliance on authority went directly against Aristotle's research, as he believed that authority does not prove anything. I do not defer to any one authority all the time, when I am given a choice or problem in life I always do my own research to find the pros and cons, and then decide what to do, I will never put my full trust into just one source, as there is so much false media in the world.
H#2
ReplyDeleteLHP #1 - Aristotle wrote of swallows and summer to emphasize his point that happiness doesn't come fast. He believed that happiness was achieved over time through leading a good life. I agree with Aristotle. I completely agree that as you live and build your life you can get happy through the results as you grow. I think the point he made about the little things not bringing full happiness is valid because we as humans tend to have something good happen in our lives and it gets transformed into a new normal that we don't feel as grateful for.
#2 - The main difference in how they're portrayed in the School of Athens painting is what they're focused on and how it displays their philosophical beliefs. Plato is depicted looking up at the heavens which shows how he believed in the theory of forms and that the physical reality only held a fragment of a true, greater reality. This differs from Aristotle who points towards the world in front of him which shows how interested he was in every aspect of our own world. I agree with Aristotle and with his philosophical views because while I see the importance of searching for a greater reality, I agree more with making discoveries and asking questions in our own world.
#4 - Aristotle's philosophy was based on personal experiences and how you interpret these experiences to form your own opinions. He heavily disagreed with people who agreed and believed anything that someone with authority or status said just because they said it. I feel like I catch myself believing things that my parents told me as a young kid even though I hadn't tried them before. I think I do this because of how impressionable I was as a kid and how much I look up to my parents so their views had a big impact on me as it usually is with other kids.
#H1
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1. The point Aristotle was making when he wrote of swallows and summer was "just as it takes more than the arrival of one swallow to prove that summer has come, and more than one single warm day, so a few moments of pleasure don't add up to true happiness." I am a little on the fence about this belief. I believe someone with happy moments can live a happy life. The disagreement comes up when happy is defined. I believe a "happy life" does not exist because "happy" is merely an emotion. A true happy life would require happiness 24/7, however, joy allows for other emotions to be felt. A joyful life comes from more than just a few happy moments. It's a life that comes when surrounded by people and things that bring that joy out of you.
2. Plato believes in his Theory of Forms which perceived things by their true form rather than the thing itself. Aristotle viewed things as they really are rather than by their Form. I agree with Aristotle's view. I think people should look at things as they really are. The Form of something is too broad and does not allow for mistakes or for any differences. With how diverse ideas are, there should be room for differences in views.
3. Eudaimonia is commonly translated to "flourishing" or "success". It's more objective than just fleeting moments of bliss or how you feel. Aristotle also believed that things you don't even know about, such as events after your death, could contribute to your eudaimonia. To increase your chances of eudaimonia, Aristotle believed you must develop your character. Eudaimonia can only be achieved in relation to life in a society. It comes from interacting well with those around us.
#H01
ReplyDelete1. "One swallow does not make a summer." I was so confused when I read this, and it took me more time than I'm willing to admit to figure out that Aristotle was talking about a bird and not a throat. Despite my initial confusion, I now understand that the importance of this phrase lays within its message of recurring happiness. One accomplishment lays foundation for the next, and as you stack them, you build an army of happiness so grand that you realize that you are happy. The important part is not the amount of swallows that you accumulate. No number of good acts in your life will act as a guide to how happy you become. What matters is that you realize summer has arrived, and that the swallows are chirping to the sound of your accomplishments. I loved this analogy, and Aristotle made it sound so smart and easy to the point where I could apply it to my own life! Don't worry though, you won't catch me worshipping him like the scientists of his time.
3. Eudaimonia... (You-die-moania?) It's a complicated way to describe the success and flourishment of an individual. You can achieve Eudaimonia through being nurtured with good habits as a kid, being a productive member of society (both altruistically and economically), and by developing virtues that will make you a better person. All in relation to a life in society, hence being a "productive member of society." Aristotle makes this sound smart and undeniable, and I've personally exercised the options that he's listed out in order to achieve eudaimonia my entire life. However, I don't quite understand his idea of eudaimonia existing past our current lives. Once we die, our eudaimonia proceeds with our ancestors, and their lives will affect our eudaimonia as well. I don't understand the essence of what makes eudaimonia significant after the death of someone. For example, Vincent Van Gogh was in no way committing himself to the virtues of eudaimonia in his living life, but his legacy of success translated into art history for generations after his passing. Does this mean that his eudaimonia was legendary or obscure? What about the eudaimonia that exists past the explosion of the Sun? I don't understand the continuity of this expression of "success" or "flourishment" past the realm of life, and that makes me waver in the face of Aristotle's judgement. However, as a way of living, I accept it with open arms.
4. The reliance of authority, or 'truth by authority' as it's described in the book, goes completely against the spirit of philosophy and Aristotle's research. I believe this is because reliance of authority to dictate the truth leads to less debate, and greater susceptibility to being wrong. If people all think the same thing about something, the truth of the matter will be avoided, and this leads to major problems moving forward. This goes to show that people in today's world should be careful of who they trust. Sure, there are a handful of authorities that you should listen to like the law and your parents, but even they can be wrong sometimes. Just like how Aristotle was wrong about the metal and wooden balls, we should be weary of any statement while being prepared to question something even in the face of undeniable authority (if it's safe).
H01
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Q. 1 Aristotles point that one warm day or one swallow didn’t prove the season had changed to summer was to say that one happy moment or experience didn’t make true happiness in someone’s life. His point being: experiencing happiness didn’t result in a fulfilled or joyful life. Aristotle does make a good point that the accumulation of joyful moments doesn’t automatically make life fulfilling, but it is an extreme view when he extends that to say children can’t be happy since they haven’t lived long enough. I think the opposite, children are experiencing true joy, and often more than us. Since kids are feeling more intense emotions during development and have such a short-lived experience they are more in touch and attune to the joys adults have forgotten.
Q. 2 While Plato was interested in the definitions the abstract thought, he wanted to achieve some sort of righteous knowledge from his study of philosophy. Aristotle seems more like he wants to find it, to adventure and find the reality instead of Plato’s abstract thoughts. I agree more with Aristotle because if you’re truly searching to answer, ‘how should we live?’ why should that be answered, in your own space, in your own head, for your own deeds. Plato wanted this discovery because he believed in this hierarchal rule of philosophers so for him this philosophical clarity is for his power structure. I don’t think that’s what Socrates or Aristotle wanted from the question, they seemed more fueled by genuine pursuit of knowledge.
Q. 3 Aristotle believed humans can increase their eudaimonia by practicing and developing virtues. He thought how people flourish depends on their own practices, virtues, and relationships, but it can only exist in a political society. He says that individuals can only achieve it in relation to society, because he believes it is human nature to be political. No, I do not believe I’ve found eudaimonia, I am at a stable state, and I think I’m flourishing. I’m working to develop better virtues and balance, but I think in the society we are in now you must be a truly remarkable person to truly achieve it. since life is much different now then it was in ancient Greece the ways to make good change, good choices, or his doctrine of Golden Mean.
H03
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1. Aristotle's idiom about swallows in summer alludes to how small factors of a broad concept cannot individually define it. Specifically, Aristotle was referring to how small instances of happiness do not constitute true joy, what he calls "eudaimonia." One cannot simply be happy with themselves and their life as a result of the small-scale pleasures like food, parties, or indulgence. I profoundly agree with this. I've had many small and large joys in my life, and thankful for each and every one of them, but I don't draw true, fulfilling happiness from those things alone. The closest I get to "eudaimonia" is through enjoying my time with others and building my relationships with my loved ones. That meaningful good is what makes me feel like my presence on Earth matters, and that it was brings me fulfillment.
2. In The School of Athens, Plato is depicted pointing upwards while Aristotle extends his hand to the scenery in front of him. This is meant to symbolize the difference in the two men's philosophy. Plato points to the Forms, greater things above and beyond the material world. He does not believe that truth can be found by merely observing the world with one's sense but is, instead, found in abstract concepts that transcend "surface-level" evaluation. Aristotle, with his hand to the physical world before him, believes that we can, in fact, define things through observation and research; that there is value in what is tangible. I am more inclined to believe Aristotle. I find it hard to have faith in things without hard evidence. While I think there is merit in Plato's Theory of Forms in that some concepts cannot simply be fully understood through what we can observe - such as death, the meaning of art, or the creation of the universe - I will more often than not favor tangible proof over abstract interpretation.
4. Reliance on the authority of others violates Aristotle's research as well as the spirit of philosophy. It is the job of the philosopher to question unconditionally and ponder all things. That is a basic Socratic principle. However, I think it is basic human nature to submit to authority. This can come in many forms including one's parents, friends, bosses, or even random strangers on the internet with simply a hint of charisma. Even earlier, when I stated that all things should be questioned, as it's a Socratic principle, I am appealing to Socrates's authority as a foundational philosopher. Like in Plato's parable about those who watch shadows on the cave wall without turning to see the flame that casts them, it is often the nature of people to take the easier route. In this case, taking the word of an authority figure at face value is simple and easy, as it require us to do our research and form our own positions. It's already laid out for us. Now, while blindly believing any figure of authority is certainly dangerous, this does not mean that taking an authority figure's word is always wrong. Many authority figures are in such positions because the have merit and are credible, meaning that their words should be safe to trust... some of the time. It would be impossible fact check everything on our own, as so much information is disseminated to us through other people. If you don't want to carry out the lengthy and expensive process of research on your own, you'll have to go to another source for evidence. However, the researchers providing this evidence are technically figures of authority, and often, there are authority figures above them that supervise their research or aid in its publication. To fully discredit the work of others out of fear of potential bad faith is foolish. One must simply be conscientious of where one sources their evidence and what goes into informing their positions. But, that's pretty obvious. I'm sure I didn't have to write so much about it.
H03
DeleteI agree with you on LHP 2, Aristotle's take is more understanding than Pluto's. When given concrete evidence and hard proof it is easier to believe the results and conclusions you are given. Continuing with how Pluto's way has merit to it about certain topics, I too can understand that. Some concepts are not simply that easy to grasp with observation alone. Not everything can be looked at and produce an understanding. The example of death shows this perfectly, Aristotle can observe death, but that will not allow him to understand it fully no matter what, as Pluto says.
#H02
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#5 - Sir Walter Raleigh helped invent pseudoempiricism by publishing a book with secondhand information to make the dream of America's "boundless" gold seem real. Anderson remarks that this book set a precedent that would make non-credible information be a permanent part of Fantasyland.
#6 - Western Civilization's first big Ad campaign was the search for gold in the New World, and as Anderson puts it "[inspires] enough dreamers and suckers to create America." I think that at an extent, yes excessive advertising is detrimental to many Americans. Over-advertising products and making them seem "too good to be true" can put pressure on people to buy things that they really don't need in life. These incessant purchases made by the masses can be quite regrettable as people realize that they do not actually need what they are buying and have wasted their resources on.
#H2
ReplyDeleteLHP 1. The point Aristotle was making when he wrote swallows of summer was to reinforce the idea that just a few moments don’t equal true happiness. The bigger idea Aristotle believed is that you need to experience way more than a few years of life to experience true happiness. I don’t agree with this because I think even with less years of experience in life, I think you can still achieve true happiness.
LHP 2. While Plato believed that real philosophical ideas could not come from exploring the world through the senses, Aristotle did. Personally, I am on Aristotle’s side because even though great philosophical ideas can come from just sitting down and thinking about the world around you, I believe it is essential to go out and experience things for yourself to further expand your views.
LHP 4. Aristotle completely rejected the idea of relying on someone else’s authority. I also dislike relying on other people telling me what to do or how to do it because I enjoy being independent.
#H1
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1. When Aristotle wrote Swallows and Summer, he was making the point that one fleeting moment of joy doesn't equate to true happiness, just the same as how seeing one swallow doesn't equate to the start of summer. I agree to a certain extent, but I also disagree for many reasons. For one, the shortness of a moment doesn't determine it's importance or weight. To claim that a fleeting moment means nothing would be to claim that a day full of wonderful moments is a day wasted, when in reality it was very fulfilling. A happy life is whatever a certain person makes of it, whether it be through achieving their goals (as he claims), settling down, or even through enjoying those small moments. Claiming one truth for the millions of personalities that exist, in my opinion, is invalid. Personal and true happiness is relative.
2. In the painting "The School of Athens," Plato's figure is reaching up in the air, relating to his form theory. This contrasts Aristotle's stance, which is reaching out to the world in front of him. This implies their differing views, Plato leaning more towards abstract ideas and thoughts while Aristotle cared more for the present moment and proof he could see. I agree with both for different reasons and believe both standpoints are important for a balanced belief system.
4. Aristotle's research was completely against deferring to authority, which is ironic considering that many people swore by his writings and took them to the grave. I don't defer to any certain authority, because I don't believe any one person is always correct about everything. I appreciate different views and opinions from outside sources and people, but I typically take every side into consideration before forming my own opinion and beliefs. Right and wrong can change depending on context and different points of view. Research-wise I always go off of multiple articles, but in day to day life that's what I typically go by.
LHP2
ReplyDelete1. The metaphor of how a single swallow doesn't indicate summer, means an edge case doesn't define how we understand an overall trend. Something happening once doesn't guarantee it to keep happening or explain why it happened in the first place.
3. Eudaimonia is about how you live your life. Having a way of life that is fulfilling and leads to happiness, not fleeting happiness leading to a fulfilling life. I definitely don't have this but I'm always striving towards a better life anyway I can.
4. Aristotle was entirely against using an appeal to authority as an argument. Just because someone was right before doesn't mean they will be right again. No matter who they are they still need to prove themselves.
H03 - Quinny VanDerSlik
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Aristotle was making the point that just one occurrence does not equal true happiness, like one warm day or one swallow does not make it summer. He believes that happiness is not a short-term concept. I do agree that happiness is not something that is short term, just because you have one moment of happiness does not mean that you’re truly happy in that moment.
LHP 3-
Eudaimonia can occasionally be understood as ‘flourishing,’ ‘success’ and ‘happiness.’ To fully understand the word is to know that it also refers to when you flourish and thrive in life. In order to thrive and flourish Aristotle believes that in order to increase our chance of achieving it we need to develop the correct character. He believed that it could only be in relation to life within society. So, we need to develop the correct type of character, habits, patterns and feel certain emotions. As of this moment I did not believe that I have achieved eudaimonia, I have not been able to develop my character and fine tune it into something that I believe will allow me to flourish in life.
LHP 4-
To rely on someone else’s authority was against Aristotle’s research, he believed it does not prove anything, that authority is not to be relied on when seeking answers. When I need to defer to an authority I usually go to my older sibling, Aeryn, or my dad first. Normally this is due to me seeking answers in relation to real life situations that I want some help understanding or preparing myself for what is or will be happening. Relying on teachers is something I have been trying to do more often for when I need help with classwork instead of going to Aeryn only, as they do not have the time or answers all the time. Being able to go to a family member is more family which is why I tend to rely on family members who I believe to be someone of authority or leading to me.
H03
DeleteFL 7-
Sir Francis Bacon said that human opinion and superstition when adopted gathers other things in to support and further its claims. No matter how much is on the opposite side of the argument, they continue to believe in their opinion or superstition. I do attempt to overcome any previous bias that I have on certain topics of opinion or superstition wise. One example could be the existence of supernatural creatures. I might believe in ghosts but not other things, however, I also understand why others might not believe in ghosts. Another instance opinion wise would be about stereotypes, I try to avoid them but do end up falling into them at times, these I tend to try harder to get out of and see that not all or none are true.
H2
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1. When Aristotle wrote the Swallows of Summer, he was trying to emphasize that you cannot experience summer in one mere "swallow". It takes numerous days of sun and heat to full experience the arrival of summer. With the Swallows of summer, I do agree. I don't think someone can truly experience something or relish in it, until they have truly tasted it. I really do like the Swallows of summer because it shows that a couple of experiences with something doesn't make you an expert at anything.
2. The difference between Plato and Aristotle in The School of Athens is simply the matters of their perspective. Plato, obsessed with forms, is pointing to the shape of the world rather whats inside. While, Aristotle, is reaching towards the world ready to learn about the small actions and discoveries among people and other things. Truthfully, I have to say I am on Aristotle's side. I feel as if Aristotle had a wider picture of things because he sought out what something truly was instead of the form of it. Just because something takes the form of something, doesn't mean it can be easily understood; you have to seek it out to truly understand what it is.
3. The reliance on someone else's authority was completely against Aristotle's research. Authority doesn't prove anything, truly, and it is just a crutch people fall back on. When I was younger, I used my parent's authority as an escape goat in a debate or for something. Now that I am older, I try to learn and not use any type of authority to learn and realize that things change, or that I can be wrong!
H1 - Alayna Frazier
ReplyDeleteSocial anxiety:
I disagreed with Robertson that social anxiety depends on valuing others' belief of you. In my experience, social anxiety is more about feeling perceived. My social anxiety revolves around how many people I am near, how they act (teenage boys goofing around makes me more anxious than a group of middle-aged women walking by), and whether or not they are a stranger. For me social anxiety is about what could happen when I am around people (for example, being harassed by strange men or getting separated from my people in a crowd).
I agree with this. I would get more anxious about the idea of perception in comparison to other's beliefs in me as well. I think especially in todays time perceptions can be so easily misunderstood and skewed.
DeleteAndrew Griffith #3-
ReplyDeleteLH1-The quote "one swallow doesn't make summer" means that it takes more than a few moments of pleasure to give Happiness. I agree with this quote entirely! I believe that happiness is the state of consistent pleasure. Happiness is one's security of contentment.
LHP2- In the painting "The School of Athens" it depicts an image that shows Plato facing a library and Aristotle facing the world. Plato is very much "to the book" individual. Seeking knowledge through the act of abstract philosophical thought. Aristotle, however, did not study his philosophy as "formal" as the others. He was interested in all manner of fields and did not solidify himself to one type of thought.
LHP3-The Greek word "Eudaimonia" is sometimes translated as "flourishing." It's the act of living a life of reason. We have the privilege of thinking and sapience. We are living beings that live and die. To "flourish", according to Aristotle, is to find out who you are. find out what kind of "character" you are, and you'll have the right kind of tools to act accordingly in certain situations.
Nick Luse H2
ReplyDeleteLHP 1- I think Aristotle was making the point that one moment does not guarantee more happiness or a larger outcome. The happiness is just temporary and for the moment. I think it's the same concept as doing something that makes you feel better only fixes you for the moment, not for your entire life.
LHP 4- The Reliance of Authority went against Aristotle's teachings and research. I usually defer to my mom. When I need help with something or I'm struggling I call her before anyone. This is because she's known what's for me even though I don't sometimes and she knows me better than anyone else.
Gavin Cooley
ReplyDeleteLHP
1. Aristotle was suggesting the idea that small moments of joy and/or pleasure do not constitute a state of happiness. I would be inclined to agree with Aristotle. Being truly happy is a deeper and more complex feeling than those of fleeting moments of joy. One such example would be comparing the joy that comes from eating a delicious fast food burger to the happiness that results from transforming your body after several hard month of dieting. One is temporary, the other is long-lasting.
2. Plato focuses on the idea of forms, the concept that answers lie not in our actual perception of the world, but in the abstract ideas of it. Aristotle disagrees, believing that the real world is the one right in front of us and that we should be inclined to explore it. In my opinion, Aristotle is correct in his perception. We shouldn't waste our time on worrying about some ideal concept of the world. Instead we should look at things how they really are and try to increase our understanding of them.
4. Taking Aristotle's word as the complete truth is completely against his entire message. He believed in the expansion of knowledge, and people refusing to expand on his work and taking him as an absolute authority is not what he would have wanted. In my own life there are no authorities that I would ever differ to with such assurance. No one knows everything, and it's hubris to assume that one knows vastly more than another.
I really like what you said about how no one truly knows anything. It is so important to take everything with a grain of salt. Aristotle was a great example of this.
DeleteH1 - Alayna Frazier
ReplyDelete1. Aristotle thought that moments of pleasure doesn't mean you have a happy life. He believed in having something to devote your life to in order to be truly happy. I disagree with Aristotle not because he doesn't have a good point but because I feel like there are too many factors to consider when pondering the key to a happy life, and even then I'm not sure if true happiness is a real thing.
2. Plato's philosophy was more metaphysical and abstract whereas Aristotle's philosophy was more empirical and practical. I agree more with Aristotle because I have trouble comprehending symbolism and abstract ideas. My brain functions in science and black and white, so I like Aristotle's philosophy better.
3. Eudaimonia is a term for thriving in your life. I personally don't believe this is anything more than a concept because no matter how rich, famous, successful, studious, et cetera you become, you will always have issues and hard times in life.
4. Aristotle was against relying on other people and their ideas. He believed in free individual thinking.
H2
ReplyDeleteLHP
1. That it takes more than just a few instances of something (in this case pleasure) to mean you have achieved this (in this context, summer). I do agree with Aristotle because of how deceiving the instances we experience can be given our inability to know and realize all that that is happening around us.
2. Plato is pointing up to world of forms, while Aristotle is pointing out to the world in front of him. I would have to say I’m on Aristotle side on this; the idea of forms is silly to me, but I can understand wanting to know about the way things work.
3. eudaimonia = flourishing or success. What Aristotle means when he said seek happiness is to seek flourishing/success. You can increase it by developing good character, which means developing the virtues of good character. But this is only possible in relation to living in society, as humans are social beings. I would like to think that achieved eudaimonia to some degree in my life, for which I am gratefully for.
4. What reliance is completely against the spirit of Aristotle's research? Are there any authorities you always defer to? Why or why not?
Relying on someone else’s authority went completely against the spirit of Aristotle’s research. Aristotle was always wondering about things, so he would go about investigating, researching, reasoning things out. I do usually refer to those who’ve come before me in any typically endeavor, as I finds it good to have a point of reference when starting out in anything.
Section: H03
ReplyDeleteLHP Q1: Aristotle had said “One swallow doesn't make a summer.” He was unveiling the idea that positive moments do not accumulate a happy life. However, I would have to agree to disagree with him. Are humans ever truly happy? To agree with this statement means we can find true long-lasting happiness. I believe this to be false. Our human nature and emotions lead us to be left unsatisfied in almost every aspect of life. We can tell ourselves we are going to be positive and fulfilled every day when we wake up, but is it all just a facade? Although if true happiness is a facade, are the little experiences all we have left to enjoy? The fun times are what make life worth living. After all, as cliche as it sounds, we all truly only live once. If I cannot find satisfaction in authentic happiness or joy, I believe we deserve to feel some emotions a time or two.
LHP Q3: Eudaimonia was the Greek word for Aristotle that translated to “success.” Everyone has their own unique definition of what success resembles, it is personally tailored to the individual. Success to me is defined as the mark you make on the world. We have all heard the phrase “leave it better than you found it.” This is a phrase I live by. I would argue that making an impact small or big is what this world is about. Leaving this world with a positive mark. Many describe this vastly differently. Some may establish their kids correctly and say that is what they are leaving this earth. Others might say their research and discovery are the impacts they have on this world. It is entirely customizable to the specific person. I do not believe that I have achieved Eudaimonia or success. There is much to do and achieve before I can claim my success.
LHP Q4: Aristotle was such a logical man that people took what he said as law without question. Yet, philosophy is just that, questionable. Philosophy was built on the foundation to ask questions. Socrates taught us to question everything. Why do we know what we know, and do we even know anything? I have found myself in this same situation not questioning anything and being naive to word of mouth. The house I was raised in did not have much room for questions. The phrase “because I said so” was often used to show a sign of respect. Nothing was ever answered, and I was trained to trust the ones that were before me, that they knew better and shall not be questioned. However, asking questions should not be viewed as a form of disrespect yet encouraging. Questions allow knowledge to be presented and tested.
H02:
ReplyDeleteLHP #1
Aristotle wrote that “one swallow doesn’t make a summer”. He was saying that a brief instance of one thing does not necessarily entail a bigger thing. For instance: happiness. Aristotle’s argument was that a moment of joy does not equal being truly ‘happy’, and the way to obtain true happiness was finding a way to maintain it, keeping a long-measured feeling of contentment. In a sense, I agree with Aristotle. I think that, to be truly happy, you need to find a way to be content with the life you live. For example, finding a profession that you can take pride in or maintaining the connections and relationships you hold dearest to your heart. I do think, however, that you can be happy for the moment. If you accomplish something monumental, I think you deserve to experience and acknowledge the happiness it brings you.
LHP #2
Despite being his student, Aristotle shared some differences with Plato in his philosophy and interests. Plato, akin to Socrates, took the world around him as a “pale reflection” of true reality, looking into the deeper meaning of the world around him. Aristotle, however, took everything into account, taking it all into account. In my opinion, both Aristotle and PLato share important views. The pursuit of a greater meaning is important for the human psyche. Looking beyond the physical and creating new ideas has led to countless discoveries about the human mind and soul. However, it is also important to not lose your connection with the world around you. It is where you live, after all. Where would we be today if we never took a closer look at the nature around us? Would we have ever discovered industry?
LHP #4
Relying upon authority goes against everything Aristotle researched. Relying on authority closes a lot of doors that would ordinarily bring forth great discoveries about oneself. When you blindly accept what someone tells you, you can’t form any true opinions or philosophies. You must learn to think for yourself. In my life, I found myself relying on authority as the one determinant of my knowledge and beliefs. Having gone to private schools, I took everything I learned as the one truth. Once I enrolled in public school, I began to form my own philosophies and increased my overall happiness in life.
This is Sawyer Crain, I forgot to select my name...
DeleteH#3 John Owens
ReplyDeleteLHP:
Q1: He was saying that just because you have a single, small, indication of something, happiness, doesn't mean that your actually experiencing it in full, just like seeing a single swallow doesn't just mean your suddenly experiencing summer. I agree with this reasoning, just because you sometime experience happiness in specific, short situation, doesn't mean you're actually happy or satisfied. It just means you've found something that can offer you short term pleasure.
Q2: In Raphaels "The School of Athens" Plato and Aristotle are depicted side by side, with Plato gesturing upwards to the sky and heavens while Aristotle is reaching for the world. Using these gestures Raphael is showcasing the two opposing schools of thought between Aristotle and Plato; where Platos pointing to the heavens is meant to depict his belief in his theory of form, the belief that the world can be best understood through mental processing and contemplation. While Aristotles gesture towards the ground is a gesture towards the earth and his belief that the world should be understood through what can be directly observed and experienced. I would side with Aristotles thinking more, especially as someone in the college of science, you can think and guess and make assumptions about how or why things work but you won't ever actually know until you can actually observe them.
Q3: Eudaimonia was Artistotles answer to the question of "how should we a live a happy life?" His answer basically just boiled down to "seek happiness" but it also didn't say how to seek happiness or what happiness would be, instead Eudaemonia was meant to describe what the general feeling of true happiness should feel like and the fact that it should be something you build up and invest in over a long span of time. For how to improve your own Eudaimonia Aristotle believed the best way to do so is to improve you character through repetitive, positive behaviors, virtues, that make you a better person. If I'm going by Aristotle's deffiniton I don't think I have achieved eudaimonia because its something that has to be built on throughout my lifetime and right now I think I'm just to young to have actually achieved it.
H03
ReplyDeleteLHP- Aristotle's point that one warm day or one swallow does not prove the season has changed to summer. This correlates to how one happy moment doesn't mean that this is when true happiness is implemented permanently into ones life. This basically just means that one fleeting moment of happiness does not equal a happy life. I agree to an extent. I believe that children can experience full happiness, but I do agree with him on the sense that true happiness deals with much more than just a few experiences or moments.
#2
Aristotle was Plato's student. Aristotle shared some differences in his thinking despite this. This is what makes a good philosopher, being able to have your own ideas. Plato saw much less beauty in the immediate world around him whereas Aristotle took everything all around him into account and curiosity. They both share very important views as they both were searching for a greater meaning in life. I believe I would be more on Aristotle's side. This is because I too tend to look at the world right infant of my eyes and take it all in. If no one cared about the world right before them, and the creation all over, I feel as though life would lack color and meaning. It would feel perhaps a bit hopeless.
#3
The term, eudaemonia, is translated as, 'flourish,' and, 'success,' rather than happiness according to the readings. It is an objective feeling. Events through your life and after your life can contribute to this overall term/goal. We can achieve this by making good choices for ourselves and taking care of ourselves. We choose our own destiny. Aristotle believes we can achieve this by developing the right kind of character and by practicing good habits. I believe I am working on achieving this goal. I believe I am on the right track, but it takes a lifetime to truly achieve.
H02
ReplyDeleteLHP-
1. Aristotle used the phrase "one swallow does not make a summer" in his work “Nicomachean Ethics” to illustrate the idea that a single instance of an event or action does not necessarily signify a larger trend or pattern. The saying implies that one good deed or one instance of happiness does not constitute a full, happy life. Happiness, according to Aristotle, is a state achieved through a lifetime of virtuous activity and not just through momentary pleasures or isolated good actions.Do I agree?, This perspective encourages us to think about the long-term patterns in our lives and to seek sustained excellence or virtue rather than relying on fleeting successes. Whether or not you agree might depend on your own views on happiness and fulfillment. Some might argue that life's value is found in singular joyful moments, while others might agree with Aristotle that true happiness comes from a consistent practice of virtue over time.
4. Aristotle’s work emphasized the importance of empirical observation and logical reasoning. He advocated for understanding the world through personal observation and rational thought rather than relying solely on established authorities or dogma. Therefore, reliance on an unexamined tradition or the unquestioned authority of others would be against the spirit of Aristotle's approach. Are there authorities you always defer to? Why or why not?, This is a more personal question. Ideally, like Aristotle, one might strive to question and critically examine the knowledge and opinions of authorities rather than accepting them blindly. However, in practical terms, many people defer to experts in fields where they lack specialized knowledge (e.g., doctors, scientists) because those authorities have expertise that the average person does not. The key is to balance respect for expertise with a critical mindset that seeks to understand the reasoning behind authoritative claims.
FL-
5. Sir Walter Raleigh is often credited with popularizing tobacco in England, but his contributions to "Fantasyland" as we know it today likely refer to his role in the age of exploration and colonization, particularly in establishing the early English colonies in the Americas. Raleigh sponsored expeditions to the New World, including the infamous Roanoke Colony, which is often referred to as the "Lost Colony." These early ventures into the Americas contributed to the myths and legends surrounding the New World, fueling European imaginations and ambitions about untold riches and new lands—a kind of fantastical vision of the unknown that influenced both European culture and the eventual development of what became known as America. As for whether he was a "stupid git," as the Beatles song "I'm So Tired" says, this is more of a humorous or rhetorical question. The Beatles' lyrics likely reflect a playful criticism or casual dismissal of historical figures, rather than a serious evaluation of Raleigh's life. Historically, Raleigh was a complex figure—he was a poet, explorer, and courtier, but also involved in some ethically questionable activities, including the brutal treatment of indigenous peoples. Whether one sees him as "stupid" or not depends on one’s perspective on his actions and their consequences.
H03
ReplyDeleteLHP 2
1. Aristotle meant that little moments do not make up true happiness, and I agree. To find true happiness, you have to take your time doing the things you love.
2. Plato is more focused on the form of the world, whereas Aristotle focuses more on the world itself. I am on Aristotle's side, mainly because the idea of just focusing on what makes up the world seems boring to me. Aristotle found joy in the world around him, and I tend to as-well.
3. Eudaimonia is the greek word for "success." Aristotle says in order to increase our eudaimonia we must "Develop the right kind of character." I believe I am still working on my character, but I am sure that when it is fully developed, if ever, I will know.