Arguments For Pleasures In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

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What are Aristotle’s arguments for why pleasures are not simply bad or base? In the book Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle states, “But saying that pleasures are bad because some pleasant things cause diseases is the same as saying that some healthful things are bad because they are bad when it comes to money making. In this respect, then, both pleasant and healthful things are bad; but that, at least, does not make them bad in themselves, since even contemplating may at some point harm one’s health” (7.12, 1153a16-21). Aristotle’s arguments for why pleasures are not simply bad or base is that through this quote above he is saying although pleasure things are bad doesn’t necessarily make them bad in themselves. With that Aristotle further…show more content…
Give an outline that shows each step or movement in the argument. Another way to think of this: how does Aristotle’s logic or reasoning work here? Aristotle’s series of arguments for his reasoning of why pleasure is or can be something good: • Pain is in fact agreed to be bad. • Pain is bad and is something that is needed to be…show more content…
Any pleasures that are proper to a certain activity are considered to be pleasures that are appropriate in completing a particular activity. With this people can perform at a higher level and use a better sense of judgment. An example of where pleasures alien to different kind of activities is when Aristotle points out that, “Those who love the aulos are incapable of paying attention to speeches if they overhear someone playing the aulos, because they take greater delight in the art of aulos playing than they do in the activity before them” (10.5, 1175b2-6). In The Voyage of Discovery by William Lawhead, he talks about the purpose of goal oriented structures, which is alike to Aristotle’s claim about pleasure proper to an activity. Aristotle’s teleological ideas as stated above are recognizable because both pleasures proper to an activity and pleasures alien to different kind of activities trigger a sense of pleasure within
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