Читать книгу Classical Sociological Theory - Sinisa Malesevic - Страница 28

Aristotle’s work has been criticised in a number of respects. His analysis of causal and functional explanation has been seen as especially problematical. It is not clear why he assumes animate and inanimate objects, including humans, only have one unique function. His theory of ethics and acting in relation to the golden mean has also been criticised for being too vague since it may tell us that the right acts are between two extremes but little else, or more precisely it fails to guide how individuals ought to act in actual situations. His analysis in the Nicomachean Ethics also has Greek aristocratic values and virtues underpinning it (MacIntyre, 1988).

His politics has also been criticised for its discussion of slavery and its naturalisation. However, these were views shared widely in Greek society at the time. There is also a vacillation running throughout his political work between a desire to emphasise the importance of politics and political activity for humans as part of their rational aspect on the one hand, which is central to democratic thinking, and a desire to emphasise the contemplative life (Kelsen, 1937).