Single Idea 31

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature]

Full Idea

As we see that eye, hand and foot have some function, should we not assume a human being has a function over and above these?

Clarification

'Function' is the Greek word 'ergon'

Gist of Idea

If bodily organs have functions, presumably the whole person has one

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1097b30)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.75


A Reaction

This seems to be a case of the fallacy of composition - you can't infer the function of the whole from the function of the parts. This error by the great man smacks of desperation, but it leaves untouched his general claim that man has a function.

Related Ideas

Idea 6219 The fallacy of composition is the assumption that what is true of the parts is true of the whole [Mautner]

Idea 7933 Don't assume that a thing has all the properties of its parts [Macdonald,C]

Idea 22571 'If each is small, so too are all' is in one way false, for the whole composed of all is not small [Aristotle]