Aristotle Case

A major factor that contributes to the differences between Aristotle’s ideas presented in Ethics and Dante’s opinions stated in Inferno stem primarily from each philosopher’s worldviews. Aristotle has more of a natural science background, partly due to his father’s occupation as a doctor, whereas Dante was a major writer and philosopher in the 14th century, a time Christianity and Catholicism become dominant in European life. These different worldviews will be mirrored in the philosophers’ ideas regarding reason and faith as well as their opinions on happiness.

Aristotle believes that reasoning well will result in achieving the good, particularly for the rational human soul. Reason structures human beings, which distinguishes them from other animals and defines their characters in life. The Greek word ergon translates to the function that human beings are able to perform, which sets them apart from other animals. For example, a doctor has the function to excel at being a good doctor and this sets him or her apart from other animals. Aristotle says, “the function of man to be a certain kind of life, and this to be an activity or actions of the soul implying a rational principle, and the function of a good man to be the good and noble performance of these, and if any action is well performed when it is performed in accordance with the appropriate excellence” (Aristotle, Ethics, p. 356-357). For example, if the doctor uses his or her function with excellence, then he or she is a good person. Ultimately, it is important for human beings to find this certain kind of life that will involve using reason and rational well because it will ultimately fulfill the end goal, happiness.

In order to completely attain happiness, this rationality of the soul will allow human beings to act with virtue. Aristotle says, “the definition of happiness; for it has been said be a virtuous activity of soul” (Aristotle, Ethics, p. 361). While all