How Aristotle Understands the Human Being

In what ways does Aristotle present the human being? In this paper I will interpret how Aristotle understands the human being. In the first part of this paper I will explain the concept of the human telos. In the second part I will present how Aristotle defines knowledge the four causes in his theory. In the third part I will round off the idea of a human being according to Aristotle. In the fourth part I will explain the four causes in Aristotle’s theory. Finally, I will disclose with two types of virtues presented in the theory.

In Aristotle’s theory the notion of human telos can be translated varyingly as end, goal, or purpose. According to Aristotle, we as humans have a telos which our goal is to fulfill. This telos is based on our uncommonly human capacity for rational thought. In Aristotle’s view humans who have a telos based on rationality leads to his conclusion that contemplation is the highest human good. Aristotle proposes a method through which the human telos can be determined, and that is by meeting three specific criteria. Whatever it is the human telos may be, it must be; attainable, meaning it may be achievable by human action. Aristotle did not mean human action as a simple action done because you are human but, he noticed that a human action is one that is unique and distinctive to humans only, which refers to thinking. Secondly, it must be self sufficient, which essentially states that when isolated it lacks for nothing else. Aristotle distinguishes that the telos is what must be self sufficient rather than the human being itself. That is because humans are always in need of external necessities. A human cannot does not have the ability to be isolated and for the human to not lack anything else. Thirdly it must...

... middle of paper ...

...to being. The final cause explains the end or purpose it serves. Natural objects are different from artificial objects in that they have an internal source of change. All causes in change in artificial objects are found outside the objects themselves, but natural objects can cause from within.

Furthermore, Aristotle emulates that the natural world consist of reality. Aristotle refers to the natural world as a cosmos, meaning an ordered universe. Where there is order there is intelligibility. Laws of nature exist and the most constitutional law of nature would have to be law of causality, which is the basic law of the universe, where nothing deserts cause and effect. In Aristotle’s explanations from his text he made no distinction as to what something is to why something is. Every action done is for a particular reason, which therefore makes the universe purposive.