Paper Assignment 4

 Aristotle writes:

Whence it follows that he is most truly a lover of self, of another type than that which is a matter of reproach, and as different from that as living according to a rational principle is from living as passion dictates, and desiring what is noble from desiring what is advantageous. (Book IX, Chapter 8)  
In no more than two typed pages, explain how Aristotle reaches this conclusion, being sure to distinguish praiseworthy self-love from the sort of self-love that is an object of reproach. The phrase "living according to a rational principle" suggests that Aristotle thinks the person who loves himself or herself properly must be a virtuous person.  Is this correct? 

If so, explain why he thinks so, being sure to discuss:

  1. the relationship between virtue and living according to a rational principle, and
  2. the contrast between living according to a rational principle and living as passion dictates.

 

Citation: Weithman, P. (2006, September 19). Paper Assignment 4. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/philosophy/introduction-to-philosophy/assignments/paper-assignment-4.
Copyright 2012, by the Contributing Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License