jan 25, 350 BC - ARISTOTLE
Description:
HE DEFINES “POLITICAL SCIENCE” AS THE HIGHEST OF ALL SCIENCES, AS EVERYTHING ELSE AIMS AT THE “GOOD” OF THE STATE.
• SOCIAL GOOD IS ABOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GOOD, ONLY IN SO FAR AS INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP A SOCIETY AND THEIR ACTIONS ATTAIN THE GOOD OF THE SOCIETY, IT IS THE SUBJECT OF POLITICAL SCIENCES (SCIENCE OF ETHICS).
• DEFINES WELL BEING AS THE ACTIVITY OF THE SOUL IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRTUE DURING THE PERIOD OF A COMPLETE LIFE.
• THE DEFINITION OF THE TRUTH
• DOCTRINE OF MEAN: EVERY KIND OF EXCELLENCE (=VIRTUE) IS A MEAN BETWEEN TWO EXTREME, ONE AN EXCESS AND THE OTHER A DEFECT.
• Epicurus (Hedonism arose first by Cyrenaics and sympathized by Romans, psychological Hedonism) • PLEASURE IS THE PRIMARY AND NATURAL END AT WHICH EVERY SENSIBLE BEING AIMS, THERE IS NO OTHER GOOD. WE USE ONLY OUR SENSES TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOOD FOR A LIFETIME.
• THE STOICS (mainly a Latin school following the Epicurian teachings, with the main difference of having REASON instead of FEELINGS, DIVINE SPIRIT; SOME THEISTS AND MATERIALISTS) (founded by Zeno, and followed by Seneca, 340-265 B.C., Epictetus, A.D. first century)
• 1. WELL-BEING IS ACTING RATIONALLY, OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATURE OF THE MAN; A NATURE PARTLY SELF-DETERMINED, PARTLY DETERMINED BY THE ETERNAL LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE, AND THOSE LAWS ARE THE EXPRESSIONS OF REASON, ARE THUS IN CONFORMITY WITH MAN’S SELF-DETERMINING NATURE.
• 2. RATIONAL ACTION AND MORALLY VIRTUOUS ACTION ARE THE SAME.
• 3. FROM SOCIAL POINT OF VIEW THERE RESULTS AN EXTENSION OF THE AREAS OF DUTIES TO ALL BEINGS POSSESSING REASON, THAT IS, TO THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY.
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