I’m always amused when people talk about philosophy with disdain, arguing that “it is a waste of time because it lacks any practical application.”
This opinion, which is as widespread today as it was during Aristotle’s life (384-322 BC), is profoundly naïve. It shows the inability to perceive the impact of abstractions on daily events.
In fact, it matters a lot if your views on the nature of reality and existence are accurate. If your views (and those outlined by Aristotle) are aligned with reality, you’ll make good choices and achieve happiness. On the contrary, if your views are not aligned with reality, you will make mistake after mistake, and suffer the consequences.
Consistency is the hallmark of philosophical truth; in a good system of ideas, each individual aspect matches the totality and the totality matches reality. Every application of true principles leads to the best possible outcome under the circumstances.
True philosophy operates through identity and causality. It does not depend on wishful thinking, magic, or hope. Aristotle in his “Nicomachean Ethics” called hope a “waking dream” in contrast to the predictability delivered by causality.
Consistency in Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality
Even small deviations from the truth will create a lethal lack of consistency. Any discrepancies will undermine effectiveness and motivation. I cannot count the number of dire errors that I have witnessed, committed due to inconsistencies.
The most destructive people are the ones who refuse to take notice of the inconsistencies in their philosophy. They’ll keep going in the wrong direction until it’s too late. They will rather annihilate themselves than look at reality face-to-face.
For example, the Roman philosopher Seneca (1-65 AD) had adopted in many areas ideas similar to Aristotle’s, but failed to grasp the concept of causality.
Just as Aristotle had done, Seneca recommended practising virtue, rationality, and accepting the natural order. The problem is that his definition of “the natural order” was vastly incorrect.
Aristotle’s philosophy revolves around the human capability to observe reality, analyse its elements (material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, and final cause) and use logic to identify the best course of action.
Happiness is achievable, according to Aristotle, if you adopt the correct habits (virtues) and work steadily towards your goal in spite of setbacks. Causality tilts the odds in your favour. It does not guarantee success, but makes it increasingly likely.
The natural older and Aristotle’s views on existence
In contrast, Seneca regards “the natural order” with fear and defeatism. Instead of encouraging resolute action like Aristotle, Seneca recommends individuals to accept with resignation the evils in the world, and focus on the things they can control.
While Aristotle devoted two books (the “Eudemian Ethics” and the “Nicomachean Ethics”) to identifying habits that lead to tangible achievements, Seneca gave up on action; practically all his works (such as “On the Serenity of the Soul”) are about passive resignation.
Aristotle viewed the universe as consistent and predictable (in the sense of probability, not of predestination), but then he acknowledged that each person is free to think, set goals, and pursue them vigorously. If you fail to do that, don’t blame your passivity on the “evil universe.”
Instead of viewing causality as probability, Seneca drowned in pessimism, which he blamed on predestination. He regarded the world as driven by cosmic forces (which he called “logos”) that shape every man’s destiny.
Motivation and Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality
How motivated will anyone be to improve his life if cosmic forces are determining the outcome? What would be the point of setting goals and working hard if the outcome is predefined?
You can see the crucial impact of philosophical convictions on effectiveness and happiness. We are speaking of the factors that separate achievement from failure, happiness from misery, and enthusiasm from depression.
It is easy to understand why Seneca’s mentality is becoming fashionable again. In the absence of Aristotelian principles, it’s impossible to think rationally and take determined action in the direction of one’s goals.
If you are interested in applying Aristotelian philosophy to problem-solving, I recommend you my book titled “Against all odds: How to achieve great victories in desperate times.”
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