Monday, October 3, 2016

On Maturity

Aristotle, in section 3 of Book 1 in his Nicomachean Ethics, brings up the idea that youth is a hindrance to the pursuit of the chief end of man. His main point is that the young man is ignorant (which we learned the pain of in Oedipus) in many ways. For one, the young man is ignorant due to inexperience, which Aristotle believes is necessary in order to discuss political science correctly. Second, Aristotle deems that the ignorance of the young man to the purpose in discussions is due to his misplaced passions. The young man, as history has shown, is nye upon burning to do something as opposed to know something.
Aristotle then goes on to make a side-note that I believe is needed in our culture today. This defect that hinders knowledge is not determined by age (time) but by maturity (intellect/desire change). Oh to have Aristotle call out the current political situation in the U.S... May we be counted as those who are not hindered by our "youth."


P.S. I commented on Natalie Schuler and Ty Goram's posts.

1 comment:

  1. I agree. Aristotle pretty much had it on point in calling those that are young "inexperienced". Experience will affect choices, which shape the groundwork on which we live- on to future generations.

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