Please write an essay, 3-5 double-space typed pages.
In the course of essay, you may want to consider the following questions:
What is the clear and concise descriiption of each Philosopher’s approach and method of inquiry?
In what way does each Philosopher offer ethical or sensible guidelines for determining which beliefs and actions are proper or practical?
What are the weaknesses and the strengths of each Philosopher’s methodology?
What are the textual references?
Please give the argument for each claim; you may use a concrete example to illustrate the arguments, however, be sure to state the arguments (by giving reasons or evidence for each Philosopher’s analytical/particular or allegorical/universal conclusion).
Second Essay’s guiding questions – Using the readings in our Text, analyze how Aristotle’s metaphysics (and his method of inquiry in relation to ‘Substance’) may guide people to knowledge about the realty of the world? What does Aristotle mean by ‘Demonstrative Knowledge’ and ‘Analytic posteriori?’ What does he mean by ‘substance,’ and how is it essential in relation to the ‘Categories?’ Accordingly, how the ‘soul’ is the ‘form’ of a natural body? Explain Aristotle’s account of the ‘four causes’ for the understanding of the natural world. (Please give textual references)? How ethical virtue is the disposition of character? How living in accordance with virtue may lead to achieving a life of felicity (well-being – eudemonia)? How is ‘happiness’ an experience and what is the role of contemplation in relation to that experience (please give textual references)? What is the role of ‘artist,’ and what kind of experiences are called ‘Catharsis?’
2. In an (non-polemic) essay, differentiate between essence in Aristotle’s sense (as a thing – substance), and Essence as Plato’s idea (as an Ideal – Form). If both Philosophers are attempting to account for the world as we experience it, then how do they differ in their sense of morality (Ethics), attitudes (Metaphysics), and methods of inquiry (Epistemology)
Book: Western Philosophy: An Anthology 2nd Edition
Edited by John Cottingham
