Essay Sample on Aristotle's View of Human Nature: Rationality, Sensitivity, & Desire

Introduction

Aristotle's concept of human nature asserts that the soul is a set of faculties which includes rationality. Aristotle recognizes the existence of living things. He asserts that plants as vegetative structures have a way of functioning, which is embedded in reproducing, nutrients, and other elements. Non-human animals have such a structure which is added the sensitive structure that makes use of senses to engage with the environment and trigger desires (Thomas, Hibbs & Thomas, 2009). Human animals fall in this rational structure, and this makes them unique. Each thing has its own different structure meaning that some things have a complex form than others. Things do not exist independently, as there is a specific form or structure of a thing that defines its existence and functionality. Human beings are embedded within matter, meaning that one cannot talk about the mind and soul without the body. Aristotle's key distinction among human beings is their rational element and their desires and emotions.

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Aristotle asserted that humans are political and social creatures whose activities are common to all (Thomas, Hibbs & Thomas, 2009). Humans can be able to reach full development. Aristotle had a unique view of women, where he asserts that women are not rational creatures. His remarks disparage them. His thought is that there are different social classes that exist in the society which classify human beings according to their structure. Some are at a higher level than others, and this is dictated by social class. However, each member has a role to play in human nature, which is interrelated. As every part has a role to play, each role is essential in fulfilling the key purpose of human nature. The different parts work separately to realize a common function (Thomas, Hibbs & Thomas, 2009). Human nature can thus be expressed in the form of functions of humans and non-humans where the different structures interrelate to define human nature.

Aristotle expounds the concept of human nature by reflecting on where all action aims and whether there is one element where all action redirects for own sake. He calls that thing eudaimonia (Thomas, Hibbs & Thomas, 2009). Eudaimonia is translated to mean happiness, well-being, flourishing, living well, perfection, and fulfillment. Aristotle asserts that "the human good turns out to be activity in the soul [mind] in accordance with excellence" (Thomas, Hibbs & Thomas, 2009). This means that good life defines an activity that is embodied in excellence and involves rationality over a lifetime. Anything has the power to function excellently. Humans experience excellences of intellect, which is practical and theoretical reason and excellence of character, which is embedded in virtues such as practical wisdom, decision making based on experiences in real-life scenarios and temperance, justice, and courage. A life that incorporates virtues, which is the excellence of character, is considered as ideal for human life.

Augustine View of Human Nature

Augustine agrees with Plato in the context that the human self depicts an immaterial soul that can be able to think. According to Plato, the souls of people who die and love the forms rise to define eternal truths. This is a sort of heaven that is beyond time and space. According to Augustine, these forms depicted the ideas in the mind and soul of perfect eternal Christ (Kainz, 2015). He emphasizes on the need to love eternal Christ. The element of Christ develops the concept of good and evil. Christ represents what is good, and after death, the soul is set in heaven based on the love for eternal Christ. Augustine focuses on the necessity of will, the capacity to choose between what is good and what is evil. Human beings have a fundamental religious duty, which is to serve and love Christ. Realization of this means that we have the capacity to choose good over evil.

Augustine asserts that human nature is created by Christ and is good (Kainz, 2015). The free will Christ gave human beings places them at higher within the metaphysical ladder of creation than non-humans, which include plants. God and the angels are above humans. Originally, Christ gave us the will to choose between good and evil. The transformation of human beings means that they are constantly appealed towards evil. They have excessive satisfaction towards lower desires for material pleasures and things. Augustine asserts that this is so as we inherited the original sin from Adam and Eve (Kainz, 2015). The disobedience of Adam and Eve set the pathway to sin, and that is which humans are inclined to evil. Augustine emphasizes on the need to escape from the inherited sinfulness through receiving the grace from God. Through the grace of God, humans can be able to live a life that is pleasing to God and love for one another, which translates to mean a just and peaceful society.

Augustine asserts that the human will is corrupted and is neither good nor bad (Kainz, 2015). This means that it is inclined in most cases to love lower as opposed to higher goods. Good people have their reason and will be subordinated to faith in Christ and devotion to doing God`s will and living righteously. Augustine, therefore, emphasizes the need for human beings to follow Christ`s love in order to have a just society. The depiction of Christ by Augustine reflects a being that is Holy and worth emulating by society (Kainz, 2015). The character of a person is key in life and defines human nature. Human nature cannot be complete without God being at the center. It is through faith that we are made whole, and human nature is complete. We receive faith freely from God, and we cannot be able to command.

The View I Find More Compelling

Aristotle asserts that human nature reflects on where all action is directed at which he calls eudaimonia. The realization of excellence is what drives the soul, mind, and body. A person is therefore propelled to achieve something, and this defines human nature. Humans are in a race where the focus is on the realization of certain goals, which, when realized form a whole person. Augustine, on the other hand, introduces God in human nature and asserts that good people are those whose reason and will are subordinated to faith in Christ and devotion to His will. Aristotle, in the above case, focuses on the will of people and their desires, while in Augustine's case, it is the will of Christ that defines human nature. Aristotle asserts that the realization of excellence drives a person and defines human nature, while Augustine emphasizes on the will of Christ to drive human nature.

I am compelled to Augustine's point of view on human nature. I agree with his assertions based on the context of creation. God created the world and human beings for a purpose. We are therefore embedded in that purpose, meaning that human nature is defined in the purpose of God. God stands behind nature. Nature gives people a sense of duties where social institutions shape our duties to promote justice. I agree with Augustine's view that the mind is the most important part of an inner person, and that will define the mind. The inclination of the will defines whether our love is on lower goods such as wealth, reputation, and bodily goods, or our love is on higher goods such as virtue and God. This means that Christ drives human nature, and it is, therefore, the will for humans to first seek the higher goods as per God's will before seeking lower goods, which, according to Aristotle, is where all action aims.

References

Kainz, H.P. (2015) The Philosophy of Human Nature New York: Open Court.

Thomas. Hibbs, T.S, & Thomas. (2009) On Human Nature. Indianapolis, Ind: Hackett Pub.