Aristotle's Philosophy: Understanding Being and Human Nature

Aristotle's Philosophy

Aristotle's entire philosophy is permeated by a clear sense of teleology, in that the realization of each being's proper end is its own good. Knowing the truth is the real purpose of human beings, and it is their ultimate goal. Humans, in addition to knowing, living, and knowledge, give you a good life that makes you happy and is more specific to humans. Knowing the truth is the philosopher's task, who will therefore be the happiest of human beings. The philosopher is concerned with the principles and causes that are more universal and unchanging. Therefore, their research should cover both "being"—"being" as "being"—as well as movement, change, and transformation.

Research into Aristotelian principles about "being" reveals that all things, i.e., both natural beings—who are "by nature"—and artificial beings—constructed by humans—consist of two principles: matter (hyle) and form (morphe). Also, in all beings, we must distinguish between the act (what is) and potency (what can be).

Understanding Human Nature

This dual network will inevitably lead to research that explains how the passage from potency to act occurs. And part of reality is the human being, the human substance, that curious animal, social, endowed with reason and speech, composed of body and soul, matter. So you want to know and must live. Humans know both what is necessary and unchangeable and what is contingent. So it is necessary to distinguish between theoretical knowledge, which has an immutable object, and practical knowledge, which knows the contingent. There is also a third, namely production, linked to the contingent, proper to art.

Theoretical vs. Practical Knowledge

Theoretical and practical knowledge differ in their objects and methods. The theorist is always able to show, while the pilot is a good living, that is precise, rigorous, and teachable as it concerns the universal. This, that knows the particular, is neither as precise nor as rigorous and is not teachable. The first is related to reflection, the second to action (not productive). But both have a point of knowledge relationship. The practical knowledge of human beings is to achieve arete, excellence in individual lives (and that is the subject of ethics) and social lives (which is politics).