Essay - Philosophy on Trial Philosophy Has Been on Trial Since Its...

Philosophy on Trial

Philosophy has been ***** trial since its inception, with philosophers making arguments about the purpose, the value, and the progress of philosophy. In the early days ***** philosophy, Aristotle argued ***** the purpose of philosophy, describing it as the key to ultimate happiness. Plato took up ***** argument again and argued that ***** was the way to the ultimate good, while suggesting that philosophers should run the state instead of the democratic government. Later, Rousseau made new arguments, attacking philosophy as moving away from what it promised ***** provide. By considering *****se arguments it will be shown that none of these ***** can be considered to be either right or wrong. Philosophy is not something that ***** stagnant. Philosophy may be an internal process but it is also a soci*****l process, stimulated by the environment, including society and the people in it. Since society and people are always changing, so must ***** ***** ***** ***** of philosophy *****elf. ***** philosophy ***** always changing, arguments about its purpose *****not be right or wrong, but can only ***** valid as they apply to the current time and ***** the ongoing progress of philosophy.

***** "Nicomachean Ethics" ***** attempted to determine the conditions of human well-being, a condition he referred ***** as happiness. In describing happiness, Aristotle is referring to a long-term happiness rather than a short period ***** joy. Aris*****tle's ********** includes the idea that the supreme good is happiness, ***** th***** being the ultimate aim of every individual. Aristotle rejects several ide***** ***** how an individual obtains happiness, s*****ing ***** wealth ***** fame do not achieve *****, since they are not lasting. Aristotle also argues that pleasure is not the same as happiness, because ple*****ure is a temporary state based on present conditions and is gone when those conditions change. For Aristotle, happiness is a ***** state ***** comes from within a person. ***** *****n argues ***** happiness ***** *****d when a person is fulfilling their purpose. Since it is the *****bility to reason that separates humans from animals and objects, Ar*****totle concludes that the purpose of the human being is to reason. Aris*****tle brings this all together ***** arguing that a person achieves ***** when they act with reason. This includes the *****a that happiness is not a disposition but an *****ivity, *****d that the activity that leads to ***** is contemplation or *****.

*****, Aris*****tle concludes ***** ***** philosopher is the happiest ***** because they are involved in the highest f*****m of *****, where reason ***** the activity that human life is ***** on. Accord*****g to Ar**********tle then, the value ***** philosophizing is that it allows people to achieve their ultimate aim: happiness. Pla***** does ***** agree that happiness is the ultimate *****, but he does agree that philosophy is the highest form of activity. Plato refers to his ***** as the greatest good and as something commanded by God. He rejects the conventions of the society ***** people c***** more about money than ***** virtue