Aristotles Views - Essay Example

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, physicist, poet, and a popular student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc). He was able to produce books such as Nichomachean Ethics which describes the “happy life intended for one by nature as one lived in accordance with virtue” and Politics which gives an analysis on the political community (Clayton).

 As a philosopher and a political scientist, Aristotle was able to observe communities so that he was able to describe the relationship of men, especially to his community. One of his famous lines says that “the man who is incapable of working in common, or who in his self-sufficiency has no need of others, is no part of the community, like a beast or a god”. However, since man is not capable of being a god, they are capable of becoming a beast, and for Aristotle, this is the worst kind of beast (Clayton). 

In the analysis of the character of Achilles, we will see any comparison or contrast with the description of Aristotle of a man who is self-sufficient.

Webster's dictionary defines self-sufficiency as sufficient for one’s self without external aid or cooperation and having overweening confidence in one’s own ability or worth; hence, haughty; overbearing (http://www.webster-dictionary.net). The independence of a person from his society makes him arrogant, in Aristotle’s words; a beast.

In applying the thought created by Aristotle in the life of Achilles, it is proper to have a ort profile on Achilles. “Achilles was the son of the mortal Peleus and the Nereid Thetis and he was the mightiest of the Greeks who fought in the Trojan War” (Hunter, Achilles). He was the hero in Homer’s Iliad, which was a famous narration of the War of Troy.

Achilles was prophesied to be the only person who can help to defeat Troy. Without his help, Troy will continue to be dominated by the current kind of Priasm and his dynasty, his son Hector and Paris (Hunter, Achilles).  He had an amazing background as he was told to have been made immortal by his mother, leaving only his heel as the vulnerable part of his body. It was indeed through this part of his body that he was hit by Paris (the brother of Hector, an enemy which he has killed), was wounded, and killed.

Achilles was described as having “the greatest fighting ability” so they once got “disenfranchised from the rest of his fellow warriors and refused to fight for the Achaeans” (http://www.123helpme.com). With all this strength, both physically and in terms of power, Achilles had the air not to need anyone. His strength was sufficient for his own safety, and because he was feared he did not feel threatened by anyone. To anyone who goes against him, his might is enough for revenge. The rage of Achilles was simply unquenchable until it makes the enemy pays.

He also had problems with his fellow soldiers as he was characterized by arrogance, anger, and rage. When he was wronged by Agamemnon, by taking Briseis, the war prize in exchange for Chrysies, Achilles refused to fight for the Greeks anymore, despite several offers of handsome reparation (Hunter). This act has made him look selfless and proud, divesting him of the nobility of a true hero (Mega Essays LLC). In that way, Achilles displayed the character described by Aristotle as “having no need for others and is self-sufficient”.

Achilles was seen to be driven more by pride and anger rather than love for people, and with this, some consider him inferior to Hector, the latter died fighting for his people and his family, was seen to be a loving husband and was more of a patriot  (Mega Essays LLC). Achilles then was more of the beast as described by Aristotle.

We will also take a look at another character in Homer’s work: Odysseus of the epic poem Odyssey. Odysseus was a “legendary Greek king of Ithaca” (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). He also had a role in the epic poem, Iliad.  

Unlike Achilles, Odysseus was described to be wiser, had better relationships with his fellow soldiers thus being more influential, and had the character of a real leader. In fact, it was he who convinced Achilles to allow the Achaean men to eat and rest before launching an offensive against the Trojans, to avenge the death of Patroclus (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc). During the Trojan War, Odysseus displayed enormous intelligence and leadership ability, enough to win victory for his camp. He was known to be one of the Greek champions as he was a trusted counselor and adviser (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc). An account of him says that “he always championed the Achaean cause” and restored order to the Greek camp when Agamemnon announced his intention to depart Troy”, a character which is in contrast to Achilles’ selfishness (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc). When the Greek troops were being routed by the Trojans, Odysseus fought heroically by refusing to lead the field and instead, he courageously led a nocturnal raid together with Diomedes (Hunter, Odysseus).  After the death of Achilles, Odysseus fetched Pyrrhus, Achilles’ son to come to the aid of the Achaean, giving him the armaments of his father, after the war was won. Odysseus displayed much loyalty to the cause of the Achaeans, even to the point of being humble when he needed to be humble and being brave and radical when it is the call of the hour. In contrast to Achilles, Odysseus had shown loyalty to his troops more than his own recognition and pride, and this makes him the good man that Aristotle mentioned in his works.