back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 4326

[from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle, in 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / a. Rationality ]

Full Idea

Aristotle gives a superior account of human rationality, because he allows emotions to participate in reason, rather than being mere animal, non-rational impulses.

Gist of Idea

Aristotle gives a superior account of rationality, because he allows emotions to participate

Source

comment on Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE]) by Rosalind Hursthouse - On Virtue Ethics Intro

Book Reference

Hursthouse,Rosalind: 'On Virtue Ethics' [OUP 2001], p.19


A Reaction

This is obviously helpful in virtue ethics, but it is a bit questionable, if the core of rationality is 'giving reasons'. A feeling might be a reason, but only once it has been conceptualised. "For RLS, his feelings were his reasons", said Henry James.