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Seeking Exactness

It is only the first assignment for my philosophy course and I have already encountered an interesting topic. In Book 1, Chapter 3 (1094b.13) of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he discusses how topics differ and the exactness of truth or results within these topics also differs.

For the educated person seeks exactness in each area to the extent that the nature of the subject allows; for apparently it is just as mistaken to demand demonstrations from a rhetorician as to accept [merely] persuasive arguments from a mathematician.

I believe that a mindset such as this would be…convenient, but it cannot be the best way to approach a topic. If one were to study a topic with the knowledge that they could not achieve a clear, final result, it would definitely depress the drive for success and quality of any achievements.

Also, how would you decide the exactness of a particular topic? How could you choose a point at which the particular topic’s answers have reached their limit of exactness? Would this not make at least some people arrive at a premature and inconclusive result?

I see no point in inquiring into a topic if there can be no definitive “answer”, and it seems counterproductive to believe otherwise.

7 Comments

  1. Justin

    Jan 22, 23:17

    i think that’s the idea behind philosophy though—the question, “how should one live?”, doesn’t have a definitive answer, but we’re asking it all the time.

    i think some of the best questions don’t have answers; i.e., the journey is more important than the destination.

    like jazz improv—there’s no absolute sound or melody to aim towards, but that’s the essence of the art—it wouldn’t exist without the mystery.

  2. tarun

    Jan 23, 01:09

    Depends on your desire. People desire certain results. If their quest to fulfil this desire involves seeking answers (are we talking about knowledge/information here, or insight?) then they will want answers.

    Like Justin said, not all desires require answers to be fulfilled. Emotion does not have any rules.

  3. KarmaDude

    Jan 24, 00:22

    I feel it depends on what you are seeking, are you seeking the truth or facts. What comes to mind is a quote from Tagore, “Facts are many, but truth is one”.

    The truth we are seeking exists, regardless of who is seeking it, but what get’s in the way is our perception. It’s the case of the 8 blind men and the elephant, the truth is in front of them, but it’s their perceptions of it that differs. And a debate can result, each one trying to prove to the other that their perception is the truth, when in fact the sum of their perceptions could either be the whole truth or a subset of it.

  4. Thame

    Jan 24, 08:17

    You all bring up very interesting points, and I understand where you are coming from. I actually do agree with the idea that in certain topics, a clearly defined conclusion is difficult to find, but is it best to acknowledge that and simply quit because we don’t think that the topic will give any more?

    Justin: Your analogy to jazz music is fitting. The beauty does come from delving into the areas we have not encountered.

    tarun: I suppose it is more of a personal thing. I might be a little too accustomed to getting concrete answers in other topics and I may be asking too much.

    KarmaDude: Thanks for pointing out that story, I’d never heard of it before and it really makes sense.

  5. david

    Jan 25, 00:42

    I think KarmaDude, hit the nail on the head, and i can’t help but connect that allusion to organized religion. (I assume that is the most poignant example of which you where referring)

    And hey Thame, I used spell check ;)
    very nice site btw. slick.

  6. Thame

    Jan 26, 11:28

    David: Yes, KarmaDude makes a great point and although I was not referring specifically to religion, the idea is still applicable.

    Don’t worry about the spelling, it was the other person’s comment that really ticked me off and you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time :D

  7. matt

    Jan 26, 12:04

    Could it be that the blind-folded men are simply ignoring the elephant when he lifts his trunk and trumpets? Are they in denial or just deaf?

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