TELEOLOGY IN ARISTOTLE'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

This article contributes to the debate on the relation of Aristotle’s practical and theoretical philosophy. It argues that his practical philosophy depends to a considerable extent on his teleological conception of nature. This thesis is primarily directed against scholars who maintain that Aristotl...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor: Knoll, Manuel
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:Brasil
Recursos:Publicação independente
Repositorio:Journal of Teleological Science
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs2.www.telosjournals.com.br:article/185
Acesso em linha:https://www.telosjournals.com.br/ojs/index.php/jts/article/view/185
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Aristotle
Teleology
Practical Philosophy
Aristóteles
Teleologia
Filosofia Prática
Descrição
Resumo:This article contributes to the debate on the relation of Aristotle’s practical and theoretical philosophy. It argues that his practical philosophy depends to a considerable extent on his teleological conception of nature. This thesis is primarily directed against scholars who maintain that Aristotle does not derive political and human relations from natural or cosmic conditions. The paper defends David Sedley’s anthropocentric interpretation of Aristotle’s natural teleology and shows how Aristotle applies teleological explanations to power relations among human beings – among men and women and among freemen and natural slaves – and their purposes and goals. The article focuses on Aristotle’s human ‘function’ (ergon) argument, which is a teleological argument at the center of his practical philosophy. It argues that this argument, which Aristotle presents to define ‘human flourishing’ or ‘happiness’ (eudaimonia), depends on his definition of man as the only ‘living being that has language and reason’ (zôon logon echon). It further claims that the dispute about whether Aristotle identifies eudaimonia only with a life of contemplation or whether eudaimonia includes a political life can be clarified by referring to the natural purpose of logos.