Aristotle on the Meaning of Man: A Philosophical Response to Idealism, Positivism, and Gnosticism

Description

Why was (and is) Aristotle «right» and why are we «wrong»? In other words, why are Aristotle’s philosophical reflections on man and the world full, real, and convincing and why is so much of our modern philosophy partial and false? This work offers a detailed assessment of Aristotle’s thought in response to these questions. Using «man» as a case study, this work shows how Aristotle philosophically treats «him» as a physical, biological, social, political, ethical, creative, poeticising, and philosophising object in the world. It then continues by laying out his consequent conclusions regarding the necessary capacities of natural objects in the world. Regarding the modern philosophical approach to «man», this work shows that it flows from several directions into narcissism, nihilism, and a desire to control and manipulate the world and other people. In short, this work considers these approaches and seeks to show that Aristotle’s philosophy is «right», true, and commendable and that our modern philosophy is (often) «wrong», vacuous, and distasteful. Cover Contents Foreword Preface Note on the Text List of Abbreviations Chapter 1.1: Is Aristotle’s Philosophy “divine, but useless”? Chapter 1.2: Surveying the Definition of Aristotle’s “Man” Chapter 1.3: Exploring the Habits of Aristotle’s “Ethical Man” Chapter 1.4: Exploring the Habits of Aristotle’s “Working Man” Chapter 1.5: Aristotle on Becoming Something Chapter 1.6: The Gods and Giants Grapple with “Art”! Chapter 1.7: Aristotle’s “Philosophical Man” Finds His “Goods” Chapter 1.8: Aristotle’s “Philosophical Man” Sees the World in a Grain of Sand Chapter 1.9: Aristotle’s “Philosophical Man” Gets to Know His Limits Chapter 1.10: Aristotle’s “Philosophical Man” Finds “God” Chapter 2.1: Aristotle’s “Man” Competes in the Philosophical Marketplace Chapter 2.2: Aristotle’s “Philosophical Man” Finds Himself Chapter 2.3: Plato’s “Clever Modern Man” Loses Himself Glossary of Greek Terms Note on the Bibliography Bibliography of Classical Resources Select Bibliography of Modern Resources Indices