Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics book 6 | Truth in Theory and in Action | Philosophy Core Concepts

This video focuses on Aristotle's work, the Nicomachean Ethics, and examines his distinction between truth in theory (or in contemplation, i.e. bearing upon theoretical or speculative matters) and truth in practice (or action, i.e. bearing upon practical or productive matters).

In theoretical matters, truth has to do primarily with the correspondence between what is or is not the case, on one side, and thought in the mind (or linguistic expressions).

Truth in practical matters is somewhat more complex, since it involves not only what is the case in the intellect, but also the desire or affectivity of the person (and intellect and desire come together in prohairesis, or the faculty of choice). It also involves desire and aversion on the part of the person.

[ryanfrizzell]

Interesting video about the truth in theory and in action. It can be a good thing to know more about the truth.

[Rahvin]

Hi Dr. Salder, thanks again for another great video. I greatly enjoyed your mention of correspondental concepts of truth. I am well on my way to finishing Kevin Hector's Theology Without Metaphysics, which is primarily focused on this topic. Your video was helpful in organizing my thoughts.

[JoshV]

Hmm, thinking of desires and avoidance as being truthful to oneself does seem to be a backbone of acting ethical. if your false in your pursuits you probably aren't going to end up being fair and true to yourself or others. I can think of times in my life where a more honest and reasonable understanding of my desires would have saved both myself and others some grief.

[MrMarktrumble]

dia-noia: through mind, a-letheia= lack of forgetfulness or sleepiness. The correspondence theory of truth assumes a) objecitve real essences or universals and b) the ability of the mind to conform ( or correspond) to these essences "conforms to the way things actually are." okay. Aristotle would make an arche ( first principle) of the principle of identity and the principle of non contradiction This is the metaphysical basis of the kataphasis and apophasis. And yet, there seem to be denials to the metaphysical veracity of these arche. In the realm of Quantam physics water can be "in two places at once". If all reality is reduced to physics, and if the most accurate account account of this reality is articulated by Quantum mechanics, then Aristotle's arche do not hold. The justification for arche is " i see into them". And yes, I can see into them as well ( thank you Aristotle for pointing them out). The apex of the most fundamental truths that orders all sciences ( by supplying the most basic of all presuppositions) is a matter of perception (aesthetic). Thus, the most primary truths are aesthetic. Nietzsche thought the same, except he had the taste for the dynamic, the tragic and would wonder why anyone would have a taste for the static and the self-same., and would state that only a very few can claim the content of their perception are first principles ( he would of course claim that privilege himself, being such a profound psychologist, into seeing into the motives of others for their metaphysical perceptions). Aristotle's Biology has no room for what is conceived of as "natural history", or an evolution of types in responce to their environment and each other, once again, favoring the dynamic and ever changing in contrast to the eternal and self-same. My response at this point is: I do not live at a quantum level. I would not reduce all reality to the most subtle levels of matter in physics. While it is questionable where Aristotle has come up with the first principles of truth in episteme or maybe even sophia ( will we develop a quantum logic, and thus a quantum metaphysics. I am ignorant. Perhaps it has already been done), I tend towards him having done so in phronesis and praxis. IN the everyday lived world, you cannot have your sandwich and have also eaten it. While I know Aristotle favors sophia and episteme over phronesis and techne, and our society reverses this evaluation, and there may be wisdom in that. Even Thales demonstrated that if he desired, he could use his knowledge to make money, giving an objective, practical and economic test of his knowledge. Desire that is inhabited by reason. Now, is reason instrumental to desire, (desire fixes ends) or does reason fix ends, and desire is trained by reasons ends? Of the two, I say the second is the better choice.Good lecture.

[MrMarktrumble]

thank you again. rational desire....eros sophia to be a lover of wisdom. I am open to be that.