Purchase Solution

Aristotle's Methodological Pluralism & the influence of Nicomachean Ethics

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

I cant figure out what methodological pluralism is and how Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics are important to his political thoery. Please explain for me. Thanks!

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

The solution provides a comprehensive explanation on Aristotle's methodological pluralism and the concept of Nicomachean Ethics enclosed within the philosopher's way of thinking especially his views on politics & the theories that explain politics as a social mechanic.

Solution Preview

Many believe that Aristotle laid the basis of what we understand as methodological pluralism. The idea itself is very simple, understanding it as Aristotle meant it to be understood can be more difficult. Aristotle understood that there were different subjects in life, different fields of things to study, different genera to classify things into. It seems simple to us but at the time it was considered unusual to classify the world around you. He took this idea of different classifications of thought a bit further in works such as the Metaphysics. In order to understand the classifications, and why to classify, he had to himself, regulate thought. He created laws of thought, that governed, in his mind, simply how things are. For him there was no separation between logic and truth. An example of his laws of thought is his law of contradiction, "The same attribute cannot at the same time belong and not belong to the same subject and in the same respect." (Aristotle, Metaphysics, bk. IV, ch. 3, 1005b, 11. 18-20, p. 736.) This seems like it might be complicated, but really it's what we know as logic. Something can't both be and not be at the same time. (Reck, 1)You can't say "the apple is red but not red," either it is or it isn't, but not both. Methodological pluralism is a concept rooted in thought. It is that there are many types of thought, as we see in University in dividing schools of Arts and Science. These thoughts are governed by laws based in both logic and truth, what we can derive from what we can ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Canadian Politics

A brief look into various aspects of Canadian Politics.