Philosophy

What is Analytic Philosophy?

'There is not a single philosophical method,

though there are indeed methods,

different therapies, as it were.'

– Wittgenstein (PI 133d)

'An implicit commitment –

albeit faltering and imperfect –

to the ideals of

clarity, rigor, and argumentation.'

– Scott Soames (2003)

'Our account will be adequate if its clarity is

in line with the subject-matter,

because the same degree of precision is

not to be sought in all discussions...

So we should be content, since

we are discussing things like these in such a way,

to demonstrate the truth sketchily and in outline,

and, because we are making generalizations

on the basis of generalizations,

to draw conclusions along the same lines.'

– Aristotle (1094b–5a)

'Philosophy done in the analytic tradition

aims at truth and knowledge,

as opposed to moral and spiritual improvement.

There is very little in the way of

practical or inspirational guides

in the art of living to be found,

and very much in the way of

philosophical theories that purport to reveal the truth

about a given domain of inquiry.

In general, the goal in analytic philosophy is

to discover what is true,

not to provide a useful recipe for living one’s life.'

– Scott Soames (2003)

'The branch of philosophy we are dealing with

at present is not purely theoretical like the others,

because it is not in order to acquire knowledge

that we are considering what virtue is,

but to become good people –

otherwise there would be no point in it.'

– Aristotle (1103b)

'For there are cases and cases,

and the details make a difference.'

– Judith Jarvis Thomson (1971)

'And we may not advance any kind of theory.

There must not be anything hypothetical

in our considerations.

We must do away with all explanation,

and description alone must take its place.'

– Wittgenstein (PI 109)

'Our craving for generality has another main source:

our preoccupation with the method of science.

I mean the method of reducing the explanation

of natural phenomena to the smallest possible number

of primitive natural laws; and, in mathematics,

of unifying the treatment of different topics

by using a generalization.

Philosophers constantly see the method of science

before their eyes, and are irresistibly tempted to ask

and answer questions in the way science does.

This tendency is the real source of metaphysics,

and leads the philosopher into complete darkness.

I want to say here that it can never be our job to reduce

anything to anything, or to explain anything.

Philosophy really is "purely descriptive".'

– Wittgenstein (BB 28)

Analytic Philosophy Guides

1. Jim Prior, 'Guidelines on Reading Philosophy', http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/reading.html

2. Jim Prior, 'Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper', http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

3. Shelly Kagan, 'How to Write a Philosophy Paper', https://oyc.yale.edu/sites/default/files/philosophy-paper.pdf

What is Aristotelian Practical Philosophy?

'Our account will be adequate if its clarity is

in line with the subject-matter,

because the same degree of precision is

not to be sought in all discussions...

So we should be content, since we are

discussing things like these in such a way,

to demonstrate the truth

sketchily and in outline, and,

because we are making generalizations

on the basis of generalizations,

to draw conclusions along the same lines...

The end of the study is not knowledge

but action.'

– Aristotle (1094b–5a)

'A human being is by nature a social being.'

– Aristotle (1097b)

'The characteristic activity of a human being is

an activity of the soul in accordance with reason.'

– Aristotle (1098a)

'The human good turns out to be

activity of the soul

in accordance with virtue.'

– Aristotle (1098a)

'For one swallow does not make a summer,

nor one day.

Neither does one day or a short time

make someone blessed and happy.'

– Aristotle (1098a)

'A person with virtue finds pleasure in

what accords with virtue.'

– Aristotle (1099a)

'Happiness requires complete virtue.'

– Aristotle (1100a)

'Virtues arise in us neither by nature

nor contrary to nature,

but nature gives us the capacity

to acquire them, and completion comes

through habituation.'

– Aristotle (1103a)

'The branch of philosophy we are dealing with

at present is not purely theoretical like the others,

because it is not in order to acquire knowledge

that we are considering what virtue is,

but to become good people – otherwise

there would be no point in it.'

– Aristotle (1103b)

'The virtue of a human being too will be

the state that makes a human being good

and makes him perform

his characteristic activity well.'

– Aristotle (1106a)

'Actions done in accordance with virtue are noble

and done for the sake of what is noble.'

– Aristotle (1120a)

'A feeling of disgrace is characteristic of a bad person,

because he is the sort to do disgraceful things.'

– Aristotle (1128b)

'Pericles and people like him are practically wise,

because they can see what is good for themselves

and what is good for people in general.'

– Aristotle (1140b)

'It seems to be characteristic of the practically wise person

to be able to deliberate nobly about what is good

and beneficial for himself.'

–Aristotle (1140a)

'Practical wisdom is concerned with acts that are

just, noble, and good for a human being.'

–Aristotle (1143b)

'And this is evident to the good person alone,

since wickedness distorts our vision

and thoroughly deceives us.'

– Aristotle (1144a)

'If the agent acquires intellect,

then his action is quite different;

his state, while similar to what it was,

will then be real virtue...

Real virtue does not develop

without practical wisdom.'

– Aristotle (1144b)

'The good person should be a self-lover,

since he will help himself

as well as benefit others

by doing noble acts.'

– Aristotle (1169a)