Please help me.
2007-02-20 03:39:09 · 4 answers · asked by Jimmy H 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Aristotle's search for the highest good mirrors a lot of similar searches for the greatest and best of various things. He concedes that it's not hard at all for someone to think of a long list of various things that are good, but to find the MOST good thing will take a bit more deduction. So he lays out a few ground rules:
First of all, he points out, the highest good must be desirable solely for itself, and not for its consequences. If you are thirsty, it is the water that is good, not the hike to a nearby stream (even if that's what gets you the water). In a way, this makes it like the 'prime mover' he mentions in other contexts or like a king: lords may be noble, but their power is derived from the king, who in turn derives it from nobody else on earth.
It's reasonable to think that honour might be close to the highest good, in that it's pretty easy to tuck other 'good's underneath it: it's good to be truthful, because that brings you honour, for example.
But honour cannot be the highest value because it is not universally handy. What is honour to a man trapped alone in the woods? Will his honour give him shelter or help him find his way out? Not even vaguely. This suggests that there are whole groups of good things that do NOT fit under honour or come from honour. Honour cannot, therefore, be the highest good by Aristotle's reckoning.
What Aristotle decides IS the greatest good might be translated as 'living well'. Basically, it involves constantly performing good actions in accordance with reason and the dictates of the gods. A person who is constantly DOING good things, Aristotle reasons, almost cannot help but recieve all the various blessings of such actions, honour among them!
2007-02-20 06:08:50 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer has been posted already, but also remember that Aristotle may not have been right, as others say that honor is in fact the highest form of trust, and trust is the first consideration in the measure of any item or entity's value.
Aristotle's exceptions did not prove the rule in this instance.
2007-02-20 17:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by Grist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because honor depends on whom is honoring you
2007-02-20 13:55:44 · answer #3 · answered by BANANA 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think doctor why just answered your question...
2007-02-20 16:35:46 · answer #4 · answered by ♫Pavic♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋