The Human Function Argument Essay -- Philosophy Aristotle

The Human Function Argument Aristotle argues that the human economic consumption is activity of the soul that expresses or requires reason. This argument is found in Nicomachean morals approximately between Bekker lines 1097b24 and 1098a9.1. Humans must have a function, or else they would be idle, which is absurd. Aristotle directly asks the reader if humans might have no important overall function other than a chosen communication channel in society but suggests that this would not be expected of nature. Terence Irwin employ the word idle in his 1985 translation when phrasing this disjunct of Aristotle?s question.2. individually human body part has a function, so the hale human must likewise have a function. This premise appears duplicate to Aristotle?s argument that many goods serve higher goods within a hierarchy (1094a10). Aristotle is invoking the concept a hierarchy to consider functions of body parts. Each part has a function that serves a larger part with a different f unction, and so it awaits that the largest unit, the human body itself, must have a function.3. The human function is alone(predicate) to only humans themselves. Aristotle does not seem to consider that unique human features could simply be superfluous he simply states as a goal that he is looking for a unique function.4. Human function is not growth and nutrition because these aspects of vitality are shared with plants. It is sensible to make this exclusion if one accepts the terce premise.5. Human function is not sense perception because this aspect of animateness is shared with animals. Fulfilling a function like this would constitute a life history of gratification, which Aristotle rejected earlier (1095b16).6. The part of the human soul with reason is unique to humans. This is simply... ...unction argument points out its inadequacy to stand alone since the argument provides shortsighted evidence for some of its premises and rests only on certain coarse beliefs without making a strong connection to the supporting evidence.BibliographyAristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Classics of Moral and policy-making Theory. 3rd ed. Trans. Terence Irwin. Ed. Michael L. Morgan. capital of Indiana Hackett Publishing Company, 2001.Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. W. D. Ross. sic.Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. Terence Irwin. Indianapolis Hackett Publishing Company, 1985.Aristotle. Politics. Trans. C. D. C. Reeve. Indianapolis Hackett Publishing Company, 1998.Plato. Protagoras. Trans. Stanley Lombardo and Karen Bell. Indianapolis Hackett Publishing Company, 1992.