TEORIA COMPORTAMENTULUI ŞI BLÂNDEŢEA LA ARISTOTEL
THE THEORY OF BEHAVIOUR AND THE GENTLENESS IN ARISTOTLE

Summary/Abstract: The paper starts by counter-posing Plato’s representation of the soul and Aristotle’s view concerning the unity of the body and the soul, and the nature of the soul as form. The second chapter continues the comparison, by showing that in Aristotle the definition of virtue and happiness as rationally controlled activities sends to a higher sense of responsibility, the more so as the virtue does not result only from the activity of the intellect (thus it is not only dianoetic), but it is also a characteristic of the behaviour, being thus ethical. By focusing on the ethical virtues, the paper emphasizes their nature as habitus and their content as aiming at a middle ground. In this framework, Aristotle’s explanation about the human behaviour presents a coherent and ordered picture of affects and virtues. The paper stops on gentleness as a median way that has many forms, but that however is not too positive. Connected to gentleness is friendship, discussed in the third chapter of the article.

• Details
• Contents