Aristotle on Practical Truth: Coherence vs. Correspondence?

8/9/2019 Aristotle on Practical Truth: Coherence vs. Correspondence?

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/aristotle-on-practical-truth-coherence-vs-correspondence 1/11

BOCHUMER

PH

1

LOSOPH

ISCH

S

J HRBUCH

••

FUR NTIKE UND

MllTEL LTER

HER USGEGEBEN

VON

BURKH RD MOJSISCH

OL F PLUT

RUDOLF REHN

SBD FFLCH USP

335 11

BAND 9 · 1 4



A ristotle

on

Practical Truth

oherence

vs.

Correspondence?

I

hztroduction

\\'hilc it

is L·onrnrnn knowlcdge that ,\ristotlc ad\'ocalt'd sorne \'crsiun ui what has

e

come

to

lw

known é1S lhL' correspondencc lhcury oi truth,

1

lcss

<1tte11tiun

has lwcn

paid lo lhe fact that \\ilhin his discussion of tlw sphcrc of practical ralio11alit: thc

S<1111c philosophcr,

hulding

that truc reason(oning) must conforrn 1vith right dcsirc,

adumbrall'd a conccption

oi

truth hich. in part

at

lcast, lcnds itsclf to a11 u11dcr

slanding in tcrrns of a cohcrcnce thcon, or so 1 shall arguc. ln <111\ case. l am inter-

_

l'Sll'd

i11

thc tcchnicaJ

rnea11i11g of

the exprcssion > < ° > ~ l ( l À ( ° i j l 1 l - - :

i'xouCTct• in

f'i/1.

\Jic.

\'

2,

l l 3Ya30. ' lhe point in qucstion secms lo bc this:

1. II Arislotlc ,,·anls us to undcrsland the lcrm -agrecing· as cxpressing thc notion ui

corrcspo11d,·11t c, such as thc une assumed in ulk ahout language 1·s. rcalit\',

thoughl

\'S. heing, conccpl \'S. ohjecl, •righl desirc·, the

cou11tcrp<1rl

oi •reason•, should

re Cr

lo some brulc fact

on

a

par

wilh a Humean passion;

il

1\hal is meanl, hm\'l'\'lT, is

lh<it

re,1son would

hc1\'l'

lo c uill'rc with right dcs1rc, lhe

bttcr L·ould not he just sorne brulc item. Rathcr

it

musl be proposilionalh struL·

lured. at

lcasl to

some

extcnt.

1 lakc

it

that lhe lattcr alll'rnati\e 11oinb in thc right dircllion. 1or ( > f 1 t ~ 1 c ; m

f ~ o l i X l m - - :

clrL

ratiunal

dcsirL'S

and would han·

to

count

<1S

prnpositi()nal altitudes. 1 hat

1

Ji1, l , <J\

i<lrllh thc· Lirgc-r

p.nl

f a lccturc dclí1·c-rc·d tu an '1ud1c·11cc· .1t 1

\w

L1111·c'l',Íl11il( 'f 'l 'll '

ín '\ícmíc1111 (

ktohc'l ~ ( ) ( ) . )

l'hnc· 1-, _,l1ll

1 c·nL1111

alllllllllt I d1,agrc·cmc·11l 011 lhe quc·-,[;(\n \\·\wthn lhe·

nlr.1 l111g111,l1c

,-"unlc'rparh - tl1c· ,1r<1yp,nn. tltcll 1,, li1111g, ,[rnuld hc

co11cc·í1·c·d

.h h c h or c1' 'l.lic·,

,,

:l1Lu1'

d

hei' hc·c1\Jlll' [.i,htilll.il1 c·

;tllcl'

( ·1i,1rlc-.,

f-....t 111·,

111lroduLt11>11 , , j lhe· ll' ltdic.1 'L'll'L 1il \i,·1111:·

[ 01· .l llc'() ortlwd11\ i11lc'1-prc·L1lin11 i. t\1c· 'lf'll'i'flL\Tc1 C<ll1L'l'J'llc'd 111 krllh Ili 1>l11c·ch 'L'L'

\\ '

J( ·

( ,111,,'f'/1,>11.c ,1/

'/r111/1.

\ )\l;ird 21i11 I . \quite

co111prc·hc11,11·c·

dt'Lli"ll>ll 1il cL'l'LlÍll P·"'·l --'.""

111

\r1'

11\ic·

h,1, hc·c·111•rnc·11tnl l11 ' ( hl 1 .\11.c/11//,· ,111 11111/1 ( .rn1hr1dgc· .. 1111-1



,\

i-;ccllanL'<l

II. Sorne problcnzs

l'lll'

tnrn

,practical

truth'

o r

l'élthcr

,truth

co11ccrncd \\'ith

alliun,)

Ulllll'S into

pL\\

11·ill'11 :\ ristot k, d

r<rn·i

ng a 1 analog1· bct\\ 'Cl' Il < ffi rmation

a11d

11cgat ion i

1

l hc sp here

ui' rL\lsun <rnd pursuit é1 1d él\'Oidance in thc sphcrc of dcsirL»' suggL'-;ls that if

our

cimice

(npm1ipníld

is to hc dl'lTnl 0 n o v < ~ n i n ) hoth tlw rcaso11ing rnust hc truc

aml

tlll' dcsirL' right so

théll

\\'hat thc formn asseris is whé1l lhe bt L'r pursucs. This is

hm1

hc cu11ti11ucs:

"· .. this kind of thought <rnd lrntl1 is

pr<1CtKal.

Ih contras , ll'ill'n tlrnughl

is L'<lllL.lTllL'd

11ith slud1, not ll'illi :Ktion

<ir

product1on, ils good

or

had

sl<liL'

L·<i11->ish in hL'ing

lrllL'

or

l ~ 1 l s l .

hir

lrnlh

'>

lhL'

ru11c'tion

ot

ll'h<lll'\l'J' thinks; hut

Lhe

fundion

ur

\\'hat

ill'

lhinks

<1hout

,1L\1on is truth <1grn'1ng 11itli currcLt Lk-,irc.";

Ih is srnall piccc

uf lL'xt

is fui of ditlicultics of <111 ki11ds.

:\s

1

L·é1111wt

possibl) lwf)l' to

address ali of thcrn 1sh,111 hal'L' to confine rnysclt to a tl.'11 poi11ts.

(i)

t

is prt'lt1 oh1ious

th<1t :\ristotk\ point

is to 11<1llll' rcquirL'l1ll'l1ts

Lh<1t

CL'rt<1i11

kinds

of

choiccs ll'ill h<ll'L' to nwct.

l

lm1·c1·n, flL'lllling tlw

umkrsundi11g of

tlw ( ;rL'L'k

i11 11 Y : h ~ . i

-

that is, taki11g tlw wurds tu llll'<lll nif thc choiLL' is dcccnt"

m ,,iJ

tlw

choicc is to hL' dL'LL'lll" rcspL'cti1ch' rnic rnight raisc thc

Ljlll'Stio11

wlicthcr .\ristotk is

thi11king

aboul

ci thcr sufficiL'I1l

m

llL'Less<irv

conditions.

1

takc

it

that what

ic., <1t

c.,1<1ke

are conditio11s 1ointh 1iccL·ess<ir1· and sufficient. Th1s cm he gathl'rcd i'rorn

ÍIÍI

J-11J

l

22C)h'.'i

l\hcrc it is said that clwicL' "arises lrnrn

both",

that

is,

lwlief

f ü > ~ n ) <111d

11ish

l ~ ~ m i \ q m d ln

foct, tllL' passagc conLerned tl'stifics

to

lhe effcct th;1t

l ~ l i u i c c

is to be

seL'll

l'hnL' :1rl'

o thn

J'LlcL'' \\11l'rc'

.\r1\lutlc

l'L'\orh ((1 :lll.ilog1L'\

hct11·L'L'll

thc· l111g1ml1c :rnd tlic· lllL'lll:1l

l'L'.iillh,

\L'L'

c'.g

\1;i.,1,11 'i',

l>c·

1111.

Ili :-,-Ul:iK-1(1

.dung \\Jth

thL·

d1oc'll\\IL>ll

h\· J

..

11111\1:11;<.

( og1u/101111/ \;i/11,· 111.\1'1.\/11//"'.' 11/u1. '. .\lh:lll\, \; Y 20ll2, ppl<i2 ''llJ·

lhe·

po111t 111 ///if(li .\1

t1>11111,/11·i1 h:L\ hL'L'll

t:1kc·11 up h»

l 1-:lll/ l\ru1l:lll<> SL·c

R.

( 111•1111: 11, ,,j;rL'll\:111u» 1h1.«>1·1·11 (

.t11Tc·ct

,1111.i l11cu1Tc'ct l 11wt1<>11,., 111: /(1T11<' i111,.,.11<11io111il1· de i'/ulo.101'/11<'

: s

1 1 l LJ<ih), pp ' :>-111: r1.·

111111kd

111 IZ.

( ·1i1,Jwllll.

11/11,s 1111d /11/1i11si, \

;1/11,·s,

L'cl.

:111d 111trndL1LL'd

h1· J

R.

\\

hik, l

I L 1 1 k l l w r ~ ~

21llJl.pp.

]tJ:112\

.\1.h11i1111<, l.1/1. ,\11 \ ' 2, l 13lJ:i2h-.'1.

lm

thc· lllmt p:irt 1

,Jiall

nukc' ll'>c'

oi

and c'.\plrntl tlll'

tr:111'> :1t1<11111ni\'11kd h1

lcTL'lll.L' l1·11·i11

(,\,11<1<>11 , \'1,«n1111,/11·,11111 1ics,

lndi:rn.1polh l'J,'-\"..1

lr11111

'> tr:ll1'>ht1<111

r1ll1·1·, :\ll ,,1,

...

.\lo->l llllLTpt-L'ltT< 11uuld -;uggc'\( :rn

..

1 1t

I'>

tn hc.

] l)



as

a hybrid hct\\'l'l'll bclicf a11d 11ish,'' tlrns rcsc111hli11g,

to

a ccrtain cxtc11t, whal

in

L-011-

ll'mporary philosophiL-al discussio11 h'1s come to bc k11ow11 as ·lwsircs'

(ii) Thc co11ditio11 that thc rcaso11ing should affirm wh,1t thc desirc pur-,ues

(

11 YJa2:> sq.) looks a bit stra11gc. (a) For

onc thi11g,

thc requiremcnt is a

co11ditio11

011

all

choiL-L',

cllld

11()[

just

()Jl

a good choicc.' (b)

Seco11dl;·,

sayi11g

that asscrtio11

(orar

lir111atio11) ,rnd pursuit ha1-c the sarne objL'ct (Tll

mhét

[,12:>]) Ill<ll' look ta11tamou11t to

L-lllllll1ilti11g cl scrious hlu11dn. hir

\\'h,1t

is assertcd (or affirn1ed)

is

some propmi

tio11<1l L-011tcnt (//1111p)11hik 11hat is pursued

i-,

some thing

(.\J,or

so onc lllay Mgt1L'.

1

a)

lhe

lirst diffilulty

Lal1

be ml't pro1iLlcd

\IT

grant tlut

.\ristotlc

rcalizcd that thc

'i1-st t11·0

u111ditio1i-,

( . L . r L · a - 0 1 1 i 1 1 ~

111ust

bc truc -- arnl thL· desire rnust hc right) do

e•

'

not, 1<1ke11 b1 themsL·h·cs,

cnsure

pral11cal truth. Reaso11i11g a11d dcsirc L-uuld imlccd

co11ccr11 different ohjcds. (

;i1·c11

the scquellLL' of thc argumL'llt Aristotlc had

to

add

that both lllust addrcss thc sarne objcct. Yl't this condition apparc11tly

is

subjcLt tu thc

charge cxprcssed

in

(ii).

h) \'ie11ed

in

this light thc poi11t i11 questio11 gi1cs risc to thc suspicion that ,\risto-

tlc's

arguments

rcst upo11

cl

serious misundcrsta11di11g frolll

tlut u11dcrmi11es

11 hatc1·L·r

it

was th<1l he 11a11tcd to sai-.

thc \L'r\

J)L'gÍl111il1g, Olll'

L L

:\mi· 11 hilc 1doubt that ,·\ristotlc can \)L compktcly exoncratcd 011 this poi11t, 1arn

hesitant

to

co11dude that the ubjL'Ltion

is

lcthal ur for that mal ter that the argu111e11t as

sud1

is

bound

to bc

cl

11011-startcr. ln

fali,

if

e.

g.

11·e

tum

to passages portraying Aris

totk's thcor; of the prallicil s; llogism 11c Ci1LOlll1tcr c1·idc11cc -,uggesti11g that thc

L-()]1clu-,io11

oi the s1ll(1gism 1. <lll adi<m (cf.

i:t/1. ,\'ic.

\ 'II:;, 11

l/a28,

/Jc

1110t 1111. 7,

.

.

1 hL' l'\f'IL'õ'>i<lll -l11hncl· h.b

hL'L'll

li'L'cl in

thi '

c-ullk\l h\ \:. S, i

11.·.:

.'-./li,· 1 lflllt il/C/1tlrdtll'r

r-

IS/tJ//,·'c l/1,·nry,1/\'11/11('.()\t(ird ]')S'J

Sn·

.\. (

;1,.11,11,,

l'/11/,,sn11/1i,·

11111/ ///11k,

I h1\-;L·ld<lrt ·

l\rnrn. 19' 9,

p.

(,, \.

I

hL·

11ol1ll11 111 qu,·,11011 \ia,

hl'l'll 11ltackL'll

l1\

1

\.1

\\h,

..

[J1sp<"1t10111il I ill'uric-; oi \alue·-, lll: J

1

rnu·c,/i11gs o/ tl1c :\nslotc/i,111

\,1(1,'/l' h.'

(

i' SlJ). p

111:\.1(rqirintcd111

h1'

}'11[','l'S

111l:t/1i,s1uul \o,i11/

l'/11/osop/1\',

Camhmlgc

2 ) ) ), lll:lpll'r :-).

SL·c·

IJ l \ ' I ' ' ' c.. \ns/o//i, l lws. ()\ l l lrd 21JIJI), l'

SIJ,

l \uk l·I. hir thi ' pui11t l\<hlOLK l111mL·llrc

ln., lo 1 11. (,, (;1:1 l '-"'-'"'it,.\11.1/,J//,·. .

1,,1111,1,/1,·,111

/1/11,s. jj,,,,k \'/.<_:amhrid)-'.c' 19\)'J.

\\'h:1l 1s 111urL'. llilL' rni)-'.hl .11·gril' th:1l 11 h.ll 1' ,l\\LTkd hclong:-,

to

ihL· do11L1111

lll-

tlll' /'lilt'llll\\111111

fl /)J 11·\i1\e i\il' \\l\\i cllllll 'lll\

lll,l\ic'I'

L'\[11\'\;c'd

ÍIJ

illl' f'ldt'llll>'<I 111<1//Jl /lf

i\ic

\lr.Jcilc,i\ \\ l\tlgLslll.

'1.1r.1h lh,1,1d1L sh ' ' '

h<l\1·

1h1, d1n-rgc11cL'

L-.111

lll mil1g.1tc,i;

-'L'l'

.\"1'i•>lll, .\1,,1111d,/1,·i111 /://11,,

t1.111,l.1t1u11

(111\h l11slur1 •• l 111\n1ducl1011) h1 ( .. l\ll\\'L'. 11hilml l\' iilLlli 111\1t1duél1tll1

:111d

clllllllll'll·

1.111 h1 e, l\w.1d1l-, < hltl1d .21)112. [' 1· ·

l )-1



.\ 1 sccl lanc'a

701a12) or tliat cxprcssio11s such as ,,:\void

this'

count as

dcscriptiom of

<lction (/

1/1.

:\'ic. \ ll

5, 1 1 · ~ 7 a 3 5 .

\:1..'ithcr thcsis would bl.. accl..'ptabk. So herc, too,\\' ..' face

co11fu

sio11, if ;·ou likc, \'Cl it is b;· 110 mcam a co11fusio11 truly dctri11w11tal to thc m'1ttcr at

stakl..'.

Ih thc s'llllL' tokcn onc might fccl rl..'lucta11t

about

putti11g too much \\cight

upon

thc

complaint

that

:\ristotk

fails to notice thc diffcrL'llCc hct\\'cc11 a-,scrting

somcthi11g lll hc thc L·asc

and

pursui11g

some

ohjcct.

l lm\c\·er,

it

is h\

110 11wa11s

clcar

th,1t

:\ristotk actuallv is liahlc to thc charge

in

thc

first placc. l or

i11

\ iew of what is said i11 the tcxt Oill ' might arguc that

ali

1\rislotlc had

in mind W<ls that gi\ e11 sollle goal / that \\ 'C \\ould likc to hc

re<1lizcd,

a11d

gi\·c11

that

, \

turns out to lw thc appropriatc coursc of action to

realize/,,\

is thc coursc oi

<lL

tio11 that \\'e hoth apprm·e of a11d \\'ish to

C<llT\

out. C:o11sidcri11g

110\\'

:\ristotlc\ \ iL'\\

oi actio11 [pruxisj as so111cthi11g, .\, i11 \\'hich thc cnd, / , is prescnt Ulct11ph l \

h

1 O-l8b22 sq .. /:t/1. ,\ '/e.\' 5, l

l• Oh-i 7

ct ai.) it \\ill hlYOille olwious that tlw pmitio11

l<lkL'll

\\

ith rL'g<ll'd to thc ickntit; ui the objccts of bclicf <111d dcsirc may hc hoth f'LT

fccth· clcar a11d u11objcctio11able: Thc pla;·i11g of

thL'

pi<i110

is

thc c11d of thc activil\

COJKCl'lll'd <lllll does not rdcr to some othcr c11d (i\lug11. wr 1 34, l 107<1 l 12 ).

,\Jorco\'LT, :\ristotk

scc111s

to haH' suggcstcd that e11ds of actions are thclllsl..'lves <ll

li< J1S.111

(iii) : \ lar IllmL'

SLTious problcm

sccms to emerge bccause oi thc faLl that :\ristotlc,

i11trnduci11g the subjçct

matkr

LOllccrned, 011 thc onc hand 1<1lks oi

bci11g

lruc' as a

prnpert;· of

thl' fogos (

J l

3l)a24)

<llld,

011 lhe

OthLT, o( truth <\S

<\ f10SSCSSiOll

()J'

J',\lJicr <l

statc

oi

millll

of

lhe thi11king i11st<rnce

1l39a20

sq.J.

\\'hat is

more. practical

truth

i.-

charactcrized i11 tcrms oi

<lll agrecnw11t

of

that

\Tr \

i11stancc with right Lk-,1rc. l

k-

pcnding

11

what prc·ciSL'h· ,Jogos, 1s supposcd to

mcc111

thcre

SCl'lllS

to

lw

a

te11sio11

bl'lwcen thc ide<l that tlw 1.ogos rnust bc trul..'

<llld

the

11otio11

of truth as a

sl<llc'

of

millll (or sorne part

oi

it) co11í(l 'mi11g to thc state of dcsiring. l ~ 1 k i n g rcfugc to the

ex

prL'ssiu11 ill'11sio11' 1 me<rn to sav th<1l thc \ \ éW :\ristotlc i11trnduccs his point (i.c. sa\ ing

tliat reasem nrnst be truc

u11d

tlw desirc right) suggcsts th<ll our thought ,,\is thc

<lC·

1

" Sc'c' T. 1:1:11:1, .. J>()],·;,1.;,

und l'raxi;,.

U

L'Íllc'r

h:i11dlu11g,thc'l>l'<.'lisclw11 l'ntcrsclll'1dung

de'' .\nst()IL'

lc';, .. , i11: /<'i/.<,/1n/i /1ir pl11/usupl11.<c/1c

l orsc/11111g _)()

(

l'J:-6), Pf'·

..

: 1

t:1kc·

it th:1t

11

h:it Jlllhl hc· mcant hc'J'L' 1s th:it til<' mcans spccif1nl b1· J <. . 1. <lll :11·,· imknl lll'éc' 'll;

mc·am. ( T .\. (;. \ 1go, .,fJic :mstotcJi,chc Auffassu11g der pr:1kti;,Llll'11 \\':1hrhcit i11: /11/c11111/i1i11

11/,, / , itst/111/l

/Ílr

/'/11/osupl1ic

2 (] ) )1:1 , I'· 21:\ J.

195



tion to he do11e' m igh t lw t rue i11dependen th· nf what our motivat ional sL'l is l ke.

1

1·1fr,

\\ould

carn· the furtlll'r implication that n ordcr to

vidd

an instance of practic1l

truth

in

thL'

sensc rcquired

su111c

truc thought

such as

,X

is

the action to

bc

donc·

\\ould

han' to agrcc with surne

L1ct about

our 111otivational systc111.

e •

:\ow

suhlllit that this

understamling

luoks

odd

and, what

is

more, that

it

is

k1hlc

to the Lharge of burdcning :\ristotlc with an unncccssciry co111plication. But is it rc<1lly

<lll u1111cLcessc1ry one? On

furthcr

comidcration OllL' rnav arguc that thc prnhlcm con

ccrnL'd is suLh that its solution actualh- rcqui1-cs some re,1ding along that line. l.ct me

trv to show wll\' that isso:

:\ristotlc

L'lllphasi1es that heis

concerncd

with ; p u n i p c m ~ o n o u < ~ l 1 Í L 1 . So heis not

thinking

oi

iust any

dccis1011

but

oi

sorne péirliculcir

(or

ncn

t/ic

moral decision.

111

uthcr

words, so lung as \\'L' arL' content to stay with any

dclibnation

whatsoevcr clc

signcd tu identily

llL'ClllS

lit to élCCo llplish what

\\L'

\\.éllll, \\l'

ma\

as well lllélke do

1\ith 1ll'rL' cln·crncss. that is.

< ~ u 1 < n q . . ; .

ClcHTill'SS 1\ould certai11lv pnl\idc

us

l\ilh

anl' nurnlwr oi truc

tlwughts ur

senlt'nccs

conccrning

what thc nccc";sar;·

lllL'é\11'

are

in Cclch

caSL'

(lt/1.

Sic. \ ' 12 .

Yet Ó t < n ~

by itsclf does not sccurc thc élcquisition oi

lloral llll'élllS. Rathcr, thc rnorality

of

thc llll'élllS cnvisagcd to rcali1c rnor,i cnds

\\Ould

han'

tu lw constitutl'd by prude11ce ( Y l f l < . l \ l m ~ ) whilc thc dctcrrnination of

111ural

cnds \\ould

bc a rnattcr

of

\·irtuc

(lt/1.

:\ lt .

VI

12

l

l..f..fa8

sq.)

This

in

turn

shu\\S th<ll in ordcr to arri\L'

ata

lloral dL'L·ision c011ccrning thc appropriatc coursc of

adi<lll more

is

rcquircd than jusl élll\' bit oi truc tlwught.

1

'

\\'hat is rcquirl'd is sorne ,1dditiu11,1 factor m'cr aml abovl' rncrc cnds-lllL'élllS-LO·

hctTllCL'.

11

· l'h

is is

\\ hcrl' t hc n< 1t ion oi agrccrncnt o

rl'éh<

l l wit h righ t de si rc

L-oml's

i

1.

ln othcr 1\·ords, SL'cing things tl1is \\a\' gin·s rc,1so11 to prL'surnc that thc abm·L' undcr-

I' f'Jw lcrlll ci11<lti\'illl011ili Sc't \\i S (llll1l'd

b1·

t\ic Ja\l' llcTl1Md

\\'1JJi1ll11S

111 \i1s '111111<11 l'",11·.

l\

\\º111:1\\\,

..

[11\nnal

,mel

l\\l 'rnal IZc«1"im-. in: l t

IL11T1stll1

(cd.l. f\<1tio111il .\l/1(111 C11111irndgc

l ' r ' .p[ '

1-

2S

1rcpr111tcd

i11:

I\

\\º:111111,,,\Jor.il /11ck,<:arnhridgc

l ' Sl.pp

I l i

1

UI.

l c11rnwt c'11kr i11\<l thc' d1scussl()ll oi thc· n>k ihsig11c·d to Y'f)(l\'llOlé 1

or

Sillllc'

Íl111)(l\li l1\ Clb,cr111

t1011s rc·ga1·,IJ11<>

th1s 111,itkr thc

rc»JdcT is rl'IL'ITc'cl

to 1.

h.i 1;1,

,.jllmlllc'SIS

..

\11mnku11gL'l11u c·111c·m

;::->

'-

lkg ·

ili der .\risto\l'l1.schc11 l.tl11k

(\ ' e; uml

S·l.l) '" 111

()

l loffc (c·d.I, .lri,101,·lc·.s. JJ1,· .\1/..1111111·

, l1i.s, /1,· 1 /11/.. lkrlrn l ' ' 'i, PI' 1 1Sh.

'1 1 :.ub1111t th11t

1

1 ,jrn1L1r po111t sc·c·rns to ha1c' hcc11 11111dc li1·

1\

\\'1111.111s, ,,,\ct111g as thc· 1·irtuous

l'cTso11 11cts .. , 111: IZ 1ki111l\11,l\1 (c·cl. 1 ,\ri.stot/,· 111ul

111<mil

n·11/is111, Lomlon l ' ' 'i, p. 21: . 'l1i "'111l'

n\l'11t, 011c· éill1 d1sti11guish hc·twn·n SL'l'll1g that a st11\l'111c·11t is corrl'l:L and scc·ing th11t

1t

1s rc·k··

11mt to thc·

pr11ctic1il :.1tu11tio11

at h,ll1d

...

l l)6



sLrnding uf :\ristutlc's use

of

>lrnc,

and ,[ruth·

respccti\'eh, for frn111 bci11g

odd,

does

111akc scnsc

alter

ali.

.\lthough

l would prcfer a sim[1kT reading acL·ording to ,,·hiLh

110 such frag111L'11tatio11 oi truth \\ould lw L·<ilkd for, l lwlic1e that in tlw back

oi

his

rnind

il

111US\

hd\l'

UCCllrl'lJ

\O :\ristotlc

thal

SOllll'

spccial kind

of fit

\\<lS [O

hL·

looh·d

(ir_

i\lmkrn rL'adcrs

\\111 rcc<ill

tlw clforts

l.1kc11

by Kant to p()ínt out lhe

dilfrrencc

bct1\c'L'll

L·o11l(m11i11g

011c's allio11 to the principies

of

lcgalit; and

111or,1lit:·

i'L'spc'L

lÍ\'L'k 1\gain, tlw

\T I \

srn·t

uftl1111g is,

in pri11ciplc al lcast,emis<1gcd

b;

:\ristotlc

11hc11

hc

rc111arks

that

111mal

1

irtuc

is a slak

11ol

iust in accurLLllKl' (

lúHLt)

ll'ilh righl

i'L'aso11

but

togcthL'r with

(fit'TL't)

right l'L'<lson - ,,110t rnncly lhe statc e\[ncssing correcl

i L <l

son, but thc state im()lvi11g cnrrecl l'L\lSllll U 1/1. .\ic. \ ' 13, l l-l lb26 sq.). ·

III. Cmzfornzing to Desire

l lo\\' crn

thcrc

bc

a11;· <1grccmc11t bct11L'e11

rcason

a11d

dcsire i11 thc 1·irst

[1L1cc'

.\mi

wln

is il that rcaso11

or

tlrnught lias lo

urnforrn

to dcsire or thc likc?

( )

The

a11swcr to t he

ti

rst q

LIL Sl

ion sccrns cas ;·:

Trf10L1Lf1tCTI<.; is su111c co111

pie\ Lhar

actnizcd i

1

krrns

of

L'i t

hcr

u11dcrsta11d i ng co111bi

ncd wi

th

de si

rc [

Óf1fKTIK<l<.;

nw<.;]

m cise desirc co111bincd with tlrnught [ < 1 f 1 t ~ 1 < . ;

61Lwoq11K1l] ft/1. , \ic.

\ ' 2,

11.Nbl-

::;

).

Such an assurn[1lion scc111s to bc Lalkd for i11 1·icw uf thc fall that hurnan lw111gs

,,smldenlv

think

thn

uught

to

<lCl <lml

wish to act"

(Ft/1. /11J

ll

10, 1 2 2 < 1 h l ) . ~

.\nd

this

in lurn

nol onh

lllL'<\llS

that chuicc or dccisiun

crnhodv

two i11grcdicnh. so tu

spc<1k, both oi

\\hich rnusl bc l'\fWLted to coincidt' sornehow as in tlll' case tlut

11c

think wc h<l\ e to

carry out

X and ,,·ish to

do

su. :\s for <lS this gues we also

1111ght

sug

gcst that the ln·hrid \ icw of choice naturalh·

ckars

the wa1· for <\ll u11dnsta11di11g ac

<. _

cording

to 1\hich

hoth

ite111s,

rc<1son

and <.ksirc, are rl'i<1ted to

one

another to the n

tcnt that right dcsirL'

somclww

shares the

cognitiw

fcature L'\hihitcd

h1·

rcason.

' e ,

:\s some of

this 111av sound quite ,1bstract

11·e should

note that issucs likc

th1s onL·

sonlL'hO\\' wcre in the air. ln order to

<1[1precialL'

the [1oi11t in

question

wc 111ay

tum

to

lrwin's transL1ti<i11.

''

li>L'l1hcrL' .\ri,l<ilk siwak,

<li

cho1cc tcrrns

uf < l f 1 E ( 1 ~

f),n1\rnni-:11 m < ~ < i ( c t

f ,,t

1

1

n..:q 1 //1

l i id

l 22hhK- 1K .

TliL· tr:111sL1tio11 1s ln· l

l.

Zackh;1111l:\1Ch111:1, //1c

.\t/1,·11u111

Co11stit11tio11. J/1,· l:udc 11111111 / t/111. .

()11\ irt11cs111ul

\'/,,-."

1

<i11d<in

l 'Jhh).

l 9

;-



Plato's discussion of l ~ 1 l s c plcasurcs in thc J>/1ile/n1s

Thus,

in 36c-·l

la

lw has Socratcs

ilkntifr 011c

SL'Jlsc of ,faJsc· in which

it \\ould true

to <lsscrt that a plcasurc

is l ~ 1 l s c

\\ hL'll

it (i. e. thc suhiL'll)

is

mistaken

ahoul

thc ubjcll it

tc1kcs

plcasurl' in.

1

'

.\ccord-

111gh·

plcasurc

hcrc

must

he anah-zcd 'is a

prnpositional

attitutc

dircctcd

lm,a1·d .sorne

prcsu111cd sUtc oi <1ffoirs.

Thc point

Socratcs

is

aftcr

sccms

to hc

that

plcasurcs likc

judgmcnts ha\c LOntcnts ,rnd in fact are judg11w11tc1l in charactcr. \\'hat is more, Soc

ratcs, ,1t

OllL'

poi11t, takcs 1t that thcrt' is no rc<1l diffcrcncc hct\l'Ct'll, sa\, judgmcnls

(\oyo1) and

lrnpC'< "1

hcrc <lrL' thcn asscrtions in cach or us that

\ \L

L·all lwpcs?e 1

P/11/

·lO<lh-:--J. lt is truc

that this li11c nf

tlwught

has hecn criticizcd h\ a numlwr of 1110dcrn

scl10L1rs,

cL1imi11g

that

prnpositions and

fcelings and thc likc must 1wt he conllatcd.

StilL

J>lato's

idea

rna1·

1wt hc hcsidc thc point

<lt

ali. ln

foct,

llhJrc

rL'LL'lll

discuss1011

in

tlw 'iclll oi' L'llwtion witncsscs

1 rcturn

o

cogniti\ is111

in tlw

thcor;

of

L'l1lotiom

..

\\'hilc

it

i.s

ccrtainl;

hclplul to rcili1<..' that Plato's sketch of

judgmcnts

t s cmotions

or cmotions

us iudgmcnts

sorncho11 <mticipaks intcrcst in thc kirnl o strullural

point urnlcrhing ,\ristotlc's analysis

of

choice, it is importanl to apprccialL' thc rele

\ ancc

of

tlii<;

conccption

as sorne ki11d nf h; hrid bctwccn ( J ~ l C K T l K l l < . ; 1·0Cic; or ( J p c ~ 1 c ;

l ~ l L 1 \ ' 0 l l T t h : ' l (/ 11. \iL. \ ·1 2, 1 UlJh--l-:'i) or tlw outcomc

of

) o \ \ l m ~ <llld c ~ c J ~ L t 011 i s rn1 n

mnits (lt/1. hui. II 10.

l.2.26b8-10

and 12.27<13-5). lor

it

i'i

this

strullural poinl

11hich

111<1; lw takcn as an c11dorscmc11t oi· tlw 1·icw that, in the case conccrncd, pursuit and

<1ffirm<llio11

do

h<11c

thc .sarne obicch; and it

is

this point, again, 1\hich facilitalL's

élf'

prcciating thL' idc<l that rL'aso11

lll<l\

bc suppuscd to sorncl10\\ co11f(lrm lo

dL'Sirc.

( ii) 1

rnm

hcrc

it is

1 short skp to a d ~ o w l n l g c lhat 1·ic1\ cd

rnm

within

thL'

co11tcxl

ui hu11u11 actiun. Lks1rc

1s

pri111<n1· and thus Sl'r\L's as

thL·

lou1s of nidcllLL' lo he

LlkL'll

intu

aL·Lllllllt. \s ~ i r

as this goes thc

n·Jlc

of

dcs1r<..'

still

11i<11 fit holh

a lU 'rL·spo11

dL'llLL' thL·on and 1 l·oherL'llLC tlwon·. f o\\t'\LT, frnm 1\·h,1t has lwcn said 1t 1s 1«1lhcr

ub1·ious that

.\ristullc

doL'S 110t 1·ie\1 ratio11al dcsircs as hrutc dcsircs.

11

othcr l\ords,

as for as

lhe

r\ik

of

lksirL'

is

L·o11cerncd

,\ristotlc\

position

ditfcrs lrorn thc

OllL'

hcld

b1·

I- umL' in that tl1L'

L1ltcr

kndcd to 1·icw ali dés1rcs u11 <l par \\1th occun<'llLCs of

thirst or hungcr <llld tlw likc a11d hL'llLL' rcgardcd thcm

<lS

11111110ti1all'd dcsircs.·., 111

LlLL .\ristotlc's appL·al to r1ghl dcsirL' as thc instanLc to which rcason must

c011for111

' 'wL·

l

l \ 1;11 •1. i11 l 'L i t .

/'/11/d,11s.

t r ~ r n s l a l L ' L i . 111th 111trnduct1<m. l11d1.rn.1p<>l1s. J l)l)_\, p \l1

S

L L .

[ ) i , •

1,

·· (

"S 11

l 1 Is

lll 111 li

l ' 1 h ·m \

ll

f

J .11ll1l1<>11

111

f f

1

J () J { ] 'J

') l ) p p S

2

I S

; l.

.,,

l l ih

lL'llll 11as 111lr<>dllcL'li

h1

l. : .:

11 .1:, J/1L

l' ·'·'ilnlit1

r>

.-\/tri11s111,

l r incL l()l l

]

l);-r, [

l

st

L d.

0\-

t(Hd

\

l):-IJ[,

p .

.'lJ.



cnLiils lhal lhcre are rnotivatcd dcsires

or

rcason-folluwing-dcsires. '

1

:\l i

lhis

lcll.s

againsl lhe u11dcrsla11di11g or practical lruth as a sp1xillle11 of lruth as corrcspo11

de11ce.

Tcntlltive onclusicms

\ristotlc's clLdllllll oi r)ractical

truth

should be apprL'L·iatcd as

a11

important

atll'lllpl at

lorging an intrinsic link hL'l\\'eL'Jl llhltivalion

and

rationalit;. ln ordcr to sho\\

\\hat

1

llleé\11 1

lake thc lilwrt\ ur llll'lllioning jusl

one of

lhe examplcs

adduccd hy

all cmi

lll'llt dccision thcorisl in ordcr to show that a llu11wa11 aL·L·ou11t alung tllL' linL'S imli

c,1tcd b;· Davidson will not do.,. :\LL'Ording to thc lattcr

é\

re;1son ror acting (OllSisls

oi

a

pro-altitude anda

bclieC

.,

( ;iven that

both

faclors ohlain, action occurs. But

110\\

consider

the case

oi

sornehml:·

de'[)L'J«1tch· in lleL'd ufa

L"onsidcrablc surn oi 11011c\·.

The

unh- wa\·

of

ohL1i11inl.', lhis

su111 \\ould

bc lo gl'l rid

of

lwr

riL·h

old aunt. Su <lL

I L \_

cording

to L·onll'mporar; thcor\·

of

<lction il would lw

1«1lional

to opl for thc

rne<llls

specilied bv rcason.

i\m,·

lhe person co11L"n11ed does not rcsort to action .. p[)arc11lh

she freis that comrnilting sorne such act \\'ould hc lantanmunt to cornrnitting rnurder.

\\'ould

that make her irraliu11al' Or does shc realh· fali vict1m to liw charuc

oi

\\L'ak

'

-

lll'SS of \\'i J?

ChargL'S oi lhis kind \\·ould slrikc us <lS bci11g ahsurd. l lcncc

it

1nust SL'em lhat

modem thcon ui action is at loss to ,\LL·ounl for such onlissions in liw lirsl plcice. '

\pparenll;·

sorncth1ng

1s

1rnsslllg. .

\l

tliis point lhe

qucsl1011

arises ho\\

suL·h

a dis

crcpancy helwccn bclief and dcsire lllighl lw acL·ounted t(ir. lhe <llls\\LT cm isagcd hy

i:rcderic SchiL·k is lk1l "rL>ctsons i1woh·c u11dnsl,rndings

or (more

loosely) scc1ngs" ·

thal

is

lo

s a ~ : some umlcrslanding

oi'

somelhing,

.\, in lerms ui so11wthing

clsL',

l:

1·1ius,

\ \ l '

sec

some

silualion as

,lJl i s l ~ l l l L T

o i ~

sa;·,

trcasu11,

<ls

a hrcach

of

L·onl.idcllLL\

clS \1a11l of lad

<llld lhe likl'.

l\'nding

our umkr-,l<rnding

of

t hl' circurn-,UmL·l's con

'

1

'lhl' lat L'r tnm hcr' IWL'l1 suggL'SlL'LI h1· S. '), 1111111,, ... \

l\1radll\

of Jk,irc·"',

111:

\1111"11cu11 1 111/1

- ºf fii,

11/ (ju1111a/1· 1.\

( l

LJ:-hl. pp

l 'J'i-..'.IU

- ( l \.S,111• c,.\111/.:mg( fi,,1,,s \

/\,·c,l.' 111,..:uf

j),·,;:;1011

r/1c'cll),( crn1lmdgL·

ILJLJ-:-,f'P

. \ Ih

.'il'L' ll. 111111'"''·

Lss,n·s

,,11

:\«lio1h

111d

h·c11ts.

( lxford

9SO.

• 1 (

lt liL·r nit1L·ism ha1·L· hc'L'll hrnught lnn1 cird

h1 (

B11

l

. i

l•,

1 0111s rl1i11gs /;,,. /\,·,1sn11_;. ( l'\l(ml 21)1)..

SL L [li,; .\lc1/.:111g U1oi,,·s (,1hllll', 1wk 1

Ji.

p IS.

j l)l)



L'LTlll'd

\\'L' 11ill Lkl1hc1«1ll' \clrillll.\ LOLllSL'S

()1

actioIL

.\s

a

IL'SU t

\\ 'L'

rna1·

11cll

lkLidl'

til

,1hstc1i11

lrorn doi11l

,·crLu11 thi11gs likL· taki11g ad1·,rntagl' ui <l situati()ll l'\l'Il tlwugh

\.

<. _

L <_

'

lhL'I

rn1ght f1L'IILYth

l'it i11

lrorn tlw

pollll

uf 1 ic11 uf

llll'l'L'

cm1',-111c,rn-, c()hl'rL'ilLL'. 1hc

dL'LISJ\'l'

pui11t

\\'OU d

hL'

th<ll

\ \ l '

do

llOl

SL'L'

l)LIJ'sl'hl'\

ª'

fll'rS()Jl\ 11lw \\UUid,

'ª>

]J\k

hurt111g

,11101hcr \1LT,1lll's

l ~ · , · i i 1 1 g s .

l k11L·l'

11

k i t

sLL'illS to lw 111issi11g in

thL·

C<lL1s,1l ponl,

· º lil 'f1l'<lk,

is 1

grasp ui lhe -,ituatioll LililLL'rlll'd l takc it th<ll \ri-,tlltle 11a., Jl()t i11-,,·11

s1ti1·L'

tu th,11cls[1L'Ll1il

thL·

rn,lltn. l

()J 111

f//1.

.\'it'.

\ 'l 11 ih' si11gk-,

oul

umkr-,ta11di11g

1OL'l ' tOI( ur

t

l'ot11To111) ' is a 'flL'Lial kllld oi gr,isp of thL· 1·l',1lurcs rck1

ant

til thc silu,1

(Íllll ,\[ '-,[,\kL', ,llld \\'h,tt

is

llllf1tll'Llllt (li hL'<ll'

111

mim\ is ilut 11Ji1k· f11'll<killl'

(ylfl() \ ' l]OI() l\

s1q1p()SL'd

to hc f11L'\Lli[1li1L'

(UTITLlldlkll),

Lll1Lkr-,Lllldi11g i.s

110t

(/ 1/1.

\'1t'.

\ ' l 11,

UaLJ

10)

lhi.; 11uuld lit i11 p.1rt at k,1-,t, lhL· 11otio11 ()f llillkr-,t<llllli11g

1111okL·d

h;

111odcrn <lllillllrs. \:011

li1L'

Ll.LIL·i,i

pililll

i11

. \r istotk\

trL"Clt1m·11t

oi

11L1llL'rs

rL·L1lL'd til thL' prohkrn cilllLl'IIlL'd is th,ll 11ra,·t1c,1 lruth L'ilSlll'l'.\ lhe 1ight or LkCl'lll

ch11iCL',

thal

is,

l>lll'

lll<lrkL·d

h1 IL'<l'lll1 L01lli11g lo ll'rnis 11 ith ratiu11,il 11 j,, 1 lhat Is to

s,n, i'L'<lso11 is slill 111-,lrurnc11tal 111 thL· sl'llSL' rcquircd h1·

.\ristlltk-,

SLhL'illl':

\ d

1h1s

k,1turL' 1.-, compktL·ly a-,s1rnil<1kd l1i thL· ['L'CtiliM LliaraLkr Ili onc ' moral rnoli1

, 111l11.

l ~ l i l l L I l l h n lh<ll

.\ristlltk

has

1l that "go1id

dclihnaliun

is uiIIl'LlI1L'S' that rcilL·,

h

11

h<lt i-, hc11l'fiLi<1 . <lhuut

lhL'

right lhlllg,

lhe

right 11a; ,rnd ,1t

lhe

right lÍl11L'" f//1 \ '11.

\ l

9,

l I l.2h2:- 28), addi11g a l1tlk hit laln ihat good dclilwr,1tio11 11ill

hL'

thc t\}'L' oi

Lillll'L'lill'SS

lh<ll

L'\}li'L'\SL'S

11h<tt

IS

L'\}1l'dic11l i'or

prn111llti11g

till'

cllll.

Ili' 11hich

pru

LkilL.L'

is lruL'

suppmition

(/ 1/1

. .

it-.

\ ' I

9,

I I

l.2h3.2 33). knCL' lhL' '1Llion crnhraLcd

h\ clwicc

is hmllld

to hL' é\ rnoralil gil()d

()JlL".

SuLh till'll

is thc

lll<lrk lllpr,lL(IC,il trulh .

.

\11tf l't1S

( 1/'tlt'S1'1

f l t ' l l l i

Lndc·1·,1.111cl111g

is

Jllsl f'lrtl 'll· k • ,.,. \11,l1•ll<. \1,,i111t1c'lic'<lll

li/11c1

' · ) Ih. \ t tgg ' ' 'h l lut tfi,·

dt lkr

c'llcL·

c()illl 'ltll 'li

tlLl\

lw

l'lll ltkc· t l ih:

..

( llll11'lc'hc·11s1011 \él\\ ·li \<lll ,ll'ulllg11c· to l11l11.

l1,·

\\'til h·

''' ll' \L'llllul' lnlt'lligc·tlll'

S,l\\, ~ 1 1 1 l l

\ ( ) l i tlllhl l'L'lllll\L' hts l'L')L'llltllc'lll. \llll

lllll\I

· l\ ' lngi;, · l<l

,

·

,,

.

ln udcT

111

,1\1i1d thl' c1mtr.1,J1,t1<i11 uf rn,1k111g y 1 1 1 1 1 1 · 1 1 m ~ a lntl ' u111cq1tiu11 r thc· l'l1tÍ 1

Jull

J

l\11;"-.1 t,

l/1t'

ltlw <

if .\1i<l11/li". 1 umlt111 [ l) l) l l .

I

2: : . rc·lat111g .. ot 11·hich· t ..

11hat

11 L'\l'c·d1,·11t

2

)()

Aristotle on Practical Truth: Coherence vs. Correspondence?

Documents

Transcript of Aristotle on Practical Truth: Coherence vs. Correspondence?