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Essay Instructions: Aristotle calls the science he is seeking "first philosophy or theology." In what does first philosophy or theology consist? What is its object? In what way(s) does it differ from other sciences? In what sense is it "first?" In the final analysis, is Aristotle's "first philosophy" an ontology (a study of beings) or a theology (a study of first or highest being)?

Essay Instructions: Aristotle: Critique of his Dismissal of Pleasure in Nicomachean Ethics

Any bibliographies need to come from Aristotle: Introductory Readings from Terrence Irwin and Gail Fine

Essay Instructions: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Dante's Inferno are tow very different works, but are connected in many ways. Discuss their relationship textaul, literary and philosophical.
How does each of the works demonstrate the author's belief in the essential quality of human goodness?When considering the Inerno, do not only point out the absense of virtue, but look to the actions of the protagonist (dante the pilgrim) and analize the moments in which he wonders about, offers hope for, or demonstrates a faith in , goodness. Take note of the narrators voice (dante the poet) and listen to what he chooses to write about. These are the moments in which instruction for goodness might be affective upon the reader.
The Comedy, is called a tpye of novel in itself, the first verse of the poem invites the audience in and establishes parcicitation. In what ways do you think a new consciousness or conversion occurs in this canticle in the figure of the pilgrim? How does Aristotelian philosophy inform Dante's construction of the place of hell and the human characterisitics he describes?
Reference texts and call on additional sources if necessary. use citations as tools only.
hophead reciebtly completed a paper on aristotle for me, he could use that paper in this paper.

Essay Instructions: Aristotle on Voluntary Action

We choose to do what we do. Or do we? The issue of free will is bread and butter one for philosophers. We've been arguing for thousands of years about this sort of thing. Some argue that we are free to choose as we wish. Others say we are not. To some, an all-powerful supreme being determines our actions. Calvinists, for example, believe that all of our actions are pre-determined by the divine. Today, there are those that suggest that the brain is merely a matter of electrical impulses, that our actions are determined by biology. And still, most believe that we choose to do what we do.
The real payoff here lies in the notion of moral responsibility. We don't blame people for doing things where they have no choice. If your friend gets pushed by a bully and bangs into you, do you blame your friend for the accident? Your friend will rightly say, "It is not my fault. I did not mean to do that." We don't blame people, or even praise them, for doing things that they do not do voluntarily.
There is one part of voluntary action that has always intrigued me - namely non-voluntary action. I've always been interested in the situation where one is coerced, or forced to choose to do something. In this section of the Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle sets out the first understanding of coercion and moral responsibility.

Please read the chapter on voluntary action from the Nichomachean Ethics.


There are two steps to this assignment:

1. Explain what Aristotle means in this text. Why is it important to distinguish between actions that are voluntary and involuntary? Listen to my video explaining the notion of non-voluntary action as a third option and discuss.
2. Put this in a concrete context. Have you ever been concerned with an action that was less than fully voluntary? Have you ever seen a case where one was wrongly accused for something that was less than voluntary? Be creative here. In particular, you might want to look into the legal arena. Have you ever heard of a case where someone was forced to commit a crime against his or her will?

Please write five pages and upload it to coursenet by the end of this module.