Involving both the genus and the difference, definitions are propositions about the fundamental nature of a subject. For Aristotle, propositions are true if there is an agreement with the reality they represent. The truth can be reached by means of the logic syllogism, the laws of contradiction, and that of excluded middle. Disrespect for these laws would result in the uniformity of all assertions and in apathy concerning one’s conduct. Aristotle regards ethics as Man’s effort to identify his chief end. In fact, the world as a whole (whose ground consists of its concrete objects) is a constant transformation of matter toward an end. Man reaches his purpose or happiness by developing the learned faculty of controlling his irrational side through reason. The “autonomy of will” thus attained allows for voluntary actions, whose causes lie within Man himself.
Modern Reflection
Aristotle’s account of voluntary action and moral responsibility anticipates modern debates about intention, character, and the conditions under which people can be held accountable. His view that freedom grows through habit and practice aligns with contemporary research on skill formation and behavioral change. While his teleological worldview differs from modern naturalism, his emphasis on practical wisdom and the cultivation of stable dispositions remains influential. He presents freedom not as a momentary choice but as a lifelong project of shaping one’s character.
