The Strengths and Weaknesses of Aristotles Basic Arguments or Tenets

Aristotle
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Aristotle
Introduction
Aristotle was among the classical world’s foremost thinkers. His approach to thinking and logic has had an unprecedented impact on the Western world’s history. Aristotle’s logic was dominant in the later antiquity and it was widely transmitted to both the Latin and Arabic Medieval traditions (Jacobs, 2004). Additionally, his logic is also relevant in the modern world. However, scholars have recognized many limitations associated with Aristotle’s logic based on the so-called modern formal logic. As such, critics contend that the logic is inadequate for understanding everyday reasoning, mathematics, or science. This research paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of Aristotle’s basic tenets and the significance of this philosopher in the development of human knowledge and philosophical thought.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Aristotle’s Basic Arguments or Tenets
In his book titled "Nicomachean Ethics," Aristotle provides an insightful study on both personal morality as well as the human life ends (Echenique, 2012). Such study is based on various basic tenets or arguments. One of the arguments is that happiness is the highest good and all the human activity is directed towards attaining it. In this regard, happiness refers to the relentless contemplation of universal and eternal truth. Happiness is the human’s supreme good – the most appropriate way to leading one’ life and giving it its distinctive meaning. The strength of Aristotle’s argument is based on his assertion that happiness is an activity rather than a state. However, he does not urge people to live happy lives, but rather provides them with an insight on what such life consists of. For Aristotle, one can only understand the essence of a thing by understanding its distinctive or ultimate function. For instance, the essence of medicine is to achieve good health.
Additionally, Aristotle also argues that happiness is achieved through a virtuous life, the theoretical wisdom’s faculty and the creation of reason. The attainment of happiness needs adequate external goods in order to ensure the platform ...