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Aristotle – How to live a good life

ralphammer.com

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Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#21

Post by bluetomcat »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #14
simonmysun wrote: post #11

Aristotle lives in the old versions of the Earth. The outdated concepts may not stand up to modern thinking, but are sufficient for dealing with a simple life. Unfortunately, most people's lives are not simple.

I think in many parts most people's lives are not simple because they engage with them through muddled and complex intellectual frameworks using 16 letter words to explain 3-5 letter word concepts. You'd be surprised how much modern life begins to make sense viewed through the framework of antique philosophy.

Ancient societies were different. A male citizen from the aristocracy could lead a slow leisurely life, gathering with like-minded citizens on the agora and talking for hours, enjoying the finer things in life like wine and sporadic sexual contacts, taking part in sports competitions.

The "ancient wisdom" we consume now is coming from that segment of the Greek and Roman societies.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#25

Post by simonmysun »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #14
simonmysun wrote: post #11

Aristotle lives in the old versions of the Earth. The outdated concepts may not stand up to modern thinking, but are sufficient for dealing with a simple life. Unfortunately, most people's lives are not simple.

I think in many parts most people's lives are not simple because they engage with them through muddled and complex intellectual frameworks using 16 letter words to explain 3-5 letter word concepts. You'd be surprised how much modern life begins to make sense viewed through the framework of antique philosophy.

We are forced to make our life complex. You can't deny the fact that the society we are living in has evolved. Of course one still has the oppurtunity to get rid of it and live in a cave, but how many people are doing this?

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#26

Post by marginalia_nu »

bluetomcat wrote: post #21
marginalia_nu wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think in many parts most people's lives are not simple because they engage with them through muddled and complex intellectual frameworks using 16 letter words to explain 3-5 letter word concepts. You'd be surprised how much modern life begins to make sense viewed through the framework of antique philosophy.

Ancient societies were different. A male citizen from the aristocracy could lead a slow leisurely life, gathering with like-minded citizens on the agora and talking for hours, enjoying the finer things in life like wine and sporadic sexual contacts, taking part in sports competitions. The "ancient wisdom" we consume now is coming from that segment of the Greek and Roman societies.

I don't think that invalidates their conclusions.

There's also Epictetus. That man can hardly be accused of being a spoiled aristocrat.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#27

Post by marginalia_nu »

simonmysun wrote: post #25
marginalia_nu wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think in many parts most people's lives are not simple because they engage with them through muddled and complex intellectual frameworks using 16 letter words to explain 3-5 letter word concepts. You'd be surprised how much modern life begins to make sense viewed through the framework of antique philosophy.

We are forced to make our life complex. You can't deny the fact that the society we are living in has evolved. Of course one still has the oppurtunity to get rid of it and live in a cave, but how many people are doing this?

In what sense is it more complex?

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#28

Post by codegrappler »

HPsquared wrote: post #23
samirillian wrote: post #20

I just really liked this. There’s a lot of wisdom in Aristotle even if you don’t accept his entire system. For example, in his politics he says mechanics are not capable of practicing virtue. An interesting claim!

Mechanics?

Mechanics in Ancient Greece meant the study of mechanical physics. So essentially scientists. If your focus is on the material world (material here being ‘matter’ not consumer goods) then you necessarily see science as a higher aim than virtue.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#30

Post by arethuza »

quonn wrote: post #5

> First of all, what makes a thing a good thing? A good thing fulfils its unique function. Like a nuclear weapon?

The US is apparently retaining components of some large H-bomb designs for "potential planetary defense purposes" - wouldn't that be a "good" function?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B53_nuclear_bomb#Role

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