Arché and telos

Of course there have been critiques against applying Aristotelian philosophy today; some argue that his ideas were framed within specific cultural contexts of Ancient Greece which may not apply so directly today (though I would argue that much still does). Others claim that he was wrong in privileging ends over means when making ethical decisions (i.e focusing solely on achieving the desired outcome instead considering the merits/demerits involved along the way) - this overlooks Aristotle's belief that virtuous behaviour should also serve its own end rather than being merely instrumentalised for another purpose . However overall I believe Aristotelian thought continues to provide valuable insights into modern life - even if its application sometimes needs further refinement . It reminds us that going beyond mere existence involves having an aim - something deeper than fleeting pleasures or material gains - while at same time keeping sight of why we are striving towards them (the quintessential philosophical inquiry!).

Sample  solution

Aristotle’s notion of ‘arche and telos’ is a fundamental part of his philosophy and understanding of first principles. Arche, often translated as ‘beginning’ or ‘principle’, refers to the ultimate source that governs all other causes and effects, while telos is usually translated as ‘end’ or ‘goal’, which points towards something greater than mere existence. For Aristotle, these two concepts are inextricably linked – without an arche there can be no telos; the goal only makes sense if it has been set by the principle from which everything else follows. This relationship between arche and telos has relevance for contemporary life in many ways. Firstly, it provides us with a system of understanding for how things function – not just physical things like machinery but also social structures such as our education systems or governments. By seeing them through this lens we can start to make sense of what purpose they serve in our lives and how best to strive towards them. It also provides us with a broader framework for moral decision-making since our notions of what constitutes 'good' are ultimately tied up with principles laid down by an arche. We can think about how different aspects of society have their roots in certain core beliefs and values, such as respect for others or freedom from oppression – this then allows us to judge whether those societies actions align with these original principles or not. Furthermore, it gives us insight into ourselves too: we can start asking questions about who we want to be versus who we currently are and reflect on what steps we need to take in order get closer to where we want to end up (the telos).