Single Idea 112

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy]

Full Idea

Most people are readier to submit to compulsion and punishment than to argument and fine ideals.

Gist of Idea

Most people are readier to submit to compulsion than to argument

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1180a05)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.337


A Reaction

How perceptively pessimistic. We must hope that the picture has changed now that we have fairly universal education. Some people may submit to argument, but NOT to fine ideals.