The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View

Samadieh, M.

doi:10.58209/jpt.2.3.237

The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View

Document Type : Original Research

Author

M. Samadieh

Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

https://doi.org/10.58209/jpt.2.3.237

Abstract

Aristotle's discussions about Tuche (Τύχη) or fortune have obvious contradictions in two domains of ontology and axiology. In the domain of ontology, he has testified to the existence of fortune as a cause by accident- a cause by accident for an event which has occurred out of a choice based on thought and for a given intention. Aristotle believes that fortune-based affairs are subjects of intention and intellection which emerge from those agents who can take volitional actions. At the same time, he introduced fortune as an anti-rule and instable affair with indeterminate and purposeless causes. He accepted the existence of fortune even in the domain of the actions related to Techne and human happiness. However, he does not attach any value to it in axiology and declares it to be a cause by accident that comes after nature and intellect, even believing that there is no knowledge for it. Moreover, it is valueless in the domain of the action related to human happiness.

Keywords

Aristotle

Tuche

Luck or Fortune

Accidental cause

Subjects

Metaphysics (Ancient)

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