Aristotle’s over emphasis on experience

Aristotle, a student of Plato and the founder of the Lyceum, capitalized on the observation of nature to inform how we think about and view our circumstances and the world around us. As a reaction against rationalism, he formulated a theory based on deductive reasoning. I personally have many problems with this view, mainly because it steers away from seeking to find absolute truth and tells people to pursue happiness and self-gratification in the here and now. It seems to be a very shallow and subjective way to approach problems and the world in general. As someone who loves concrete concepts and a as a firm believer in Christ, I like to believe in something far beyond what we personally see, experience, or know by trusting God. Something that reaches far beyond self-gratification being our only meaning. The most important things in this life are not, in fact, what the physical world around us shows us and beyond that, this life is not about us. However, I do like the idea of living a virtuous life and justice being highly valued. I also gravitate toward the idea of friendship being pivotal to our happiness but the notion of this life being the best and most important thing seems incredibly depressing and unambitious. I also do not agree that happiness is achieved by passively trying to coast through life. Aristotle believed in the cyclical nature of the universe and its unchanging character and, again, as a believer in Christ I believe in a vast transformation that will and even now is happening daily. Aristotle relies heavily on inference and logic, when we are taught in Scripture that we cannot trust our own hearts, we have to look to One that is greater than us.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/aristotle.html

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle/

http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415