Aristotle on the weakness of the will Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aristotle on the failing of the will - Essay modelingHowever, the theory of Aristotle is more profound. He does non agree with Plato and Socrates in their imagines on the weaknesses of the will. In contrast to Socrates, Aristotle does not think that concourse will behave in the upright commission in case they deal what is good and what is bad. He also does not agree with Plato, who states that in order to number ethical principles, people should receive corresponding education. Aristotle is sure that every somebody may understand what is good and what is bad in everyday behavior not work outing on his/her education or position. However, not every someone chooses to follow the principles even if he/she understands and knows them. Speaking about the weaknesses of the will we should mention akrasia, a state that makes people pretend in the wrong representation. Every philosopher understands it differently. consort to Socrates, akrasia prevents people from proper self-dev elopment. For him akrasia is something illogical as he states in Protagoras No one goes willingly toward the bad (Protagoras 358d). Socrates is sure that if a person analyses the situation and decides the best way to act, he/ she will definitely follow this way. Thus, Socrates denies the possibility of illogical action (akrasia). In Protagoras Plato also denies akrasia, only when in later works he acknowledges its possibility. He analyses a soul in state of akrasia and comes to the closing curtain that if people decides that to act akratically is the best way for them, they will act akratically. It does not mean that a person who acts akratically has no virtues, but when he/she acts akratically, at least one of the virtues is lost. In contrast to Socrates, Aristotle acknowledges the state of akrasia and in contrast to Plato, he considers akrasia to be the one of the states that should be avoided. He associates the state of akrasia with the state of weakness, when a person knows th at he acts in a bad way, but he/she is too weak to act differently. According to Socrates, people do wrong when they lack some knowledge. The philosopher states that people give the gate expire wiser. Those people, who do not think that they know everything, continue self-development and become wiser I know that I know nothing noble and good (Apology 21d). Those who think that they know everything, do not develop further and do not become wiser, thus they can do wrong. Aristotle agrees with Socrates that wrongdoing may be a consequence of ignorance. But, according to Aristotle, ignorance may serve as an excuse only in some cases (Nicomachean Ethics, Book VII). The strength of Aristotles view is in his understanding that people do not always act in the right way even if they know that they do wrong. Socrates values virtues very high and is sure that knowledge is the main theme of virtue, and those who receive knowledge will not act irrationally or akratically. This is the weaknes s of the philosophy of Socrates. The weakness of the philosophy of Plato is that he states that people should receive education in order to follow ethical principles. Aristotle is right assuming that even those who be in possession of knowledge can do wrong. He states that virtue does not depend on corresponding education and it is not necessary to be educated in order to possess virtues. Every person should know how to behave in everyday life and most of the people possess corresponding virtues, but not all the people act in accordance with the virtues they possess. Sometimes when deciding how to act people act in the way that would benefit them most. In this case the virtue can be ignored deliberately. Such situation is frequently met in our life. Another case, when people may act in the wrong way, is the case of ignoring virtues, because of the lack of knowledge how to apply it. It is not