Incontinence (philosophy) - Aristotle

Aristotle

Aristotle devoted book VII of the Nicomachean Ethics to the discussion of continence and incontinence, having previously linked the latter both to prodigality in its effects, and to those dominated by irrational feeling in its failure to obey knowledge of the good: a case of knowing virtue, but not having habituated it to control passion.

Aristotle considered one could be incontinent with respect to money or temper or glory, but that its core relation was to bodily enjoyment. Its causes could be weakness of will, or an impetuous refusal to think. At the same time, he did not consider it a vice, because not a product of moral choice but of a failure to act on one's better knowledge.

Read more about this topic:  Incontinence (philosophy)

Famous quotes containing the word aristotle:

    Man cannot bury his meanings so deep in his book, but time and like-minded men will find them. Plato had a secret doctrine, had he? What secret can he conceal from the eyes of Bacon? of Montaigne? of Kant? Therefore, Aristotle said of his works, “They are published and not published.”
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    Aristotle and Plato are reckoned the respective heads of two schools. A wise man will see that Aristotle platonizes.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)