Aristotle's Philosophy: Knowledge, Logic, Ethics, and Happiness

ConoSentidos (Sensory Knowledge)

Sensory knowledge, like in the living area, incorporates living without the defined form. It sensitively captures perceived objects without material capture. Perception is accurate and characterizes existing qualities in the sensuous faculty in the world. The soul is the ability to receive forms, so instantly perception of the unit is a sensitive faculty that has taken shape.

ConoLogica (Logical Knowledge): The Syllogism

A study on investigations said that there was nothing prior to logic that deserves mention, so its creator is considered the founder of that branch of knowledge. If logic is not introduced in science, it is because it is considered an instrument for scientific knowledge, prior to science itself. All treaties of this matter aim at the final syllogism; its structure and laws are analyzed.

SilogismoVerTeo (Theoretical Syllogism)

The syllogism formally ensures the correctness of the conclusion, but the truth of this pretends to be Aristotelian scientific truths. That a conclusion is true does not mean the conclusion is necessarily true: The truth of the conclusion depends on the premises. Of particular importance in this analysis is the scientific knowledge of the principles. When reasoning is not from axioms, they must be demonstrated: Only this guarantees a scientifically true conclusion.

Ethics

With Aristotle, ethics descends to everyday life. The abandonment of the unity of ideas leads him to separate the goals and methods, describing ethics and theoretical science and making them practical. Sciences, like ethics and politics, are for Aristotle whose purpose is not to reach the true and necessary but the action, that is, what can try and must be human life.

Happiness as the Ultimate Goal

The term good or end is analogous; there are many purposes and many blessings, just as there are many causes, and therefore they are subordinated to others in a chain of importance. The ultimate end or supreme good is one that we would get for ourselves, and not upon any other. That supreme good to which every human being aspires and to which all other purposes are subordinated is therefore happiness. We can distinguish three types of interpretations in relation to happiness:

1. The vulgar natures, who believe that happiness is pleasure.
2. Those who love politics, seeking glory and honor.
3. Those who cultivate contemplative and intellectual life, which they believe leads to knowledge.

Virtue

Aristotle distinguishes between two powers in the soul as rational: one endowed with reason and another in agreement with reason. From this difference between the two rational parts of the soul, Aristotle distinguishes between intellectual virtues, which refine our ability to know, and ethical virtues.

Ethical Virtues

Aristotle defines ethical virtue as a condition of the individual to whom the election is concerned, situated in a mean relative to ourselves, as determined by a rational principle in that prudent direction. The determined person of ethical virtue provision relates to the election, not deliberation; it is therefore a provision of our will and not our reason. Ethical virtues focus on facilitating our choice on an average.