# Aristotle Aristotle claimed: - Humans are naturally *political*. - Humans naturally seek to *know*. He used the term *political* to describe *humanity's dependency and tendency towards social interaction*. # Society - Humans need to be needed by each other. - Interdependence introduces complexity in society. - A mark of civility is the objection to things that harm others. - People often fail to recognize when they're being exploited in relationships. - We rely on others to share and accumulate data # Arguments - Humans don't like being wrong. - Behavior is frequently determined by an individual's beliefs. - People naturally object to info they believe is wrong, in the same way that people naturally object to things that harm others. - **An argument is a rational response to a disagreement**, through showing others *why* they should adopt your beliefs. - From an argument, you want others to rationally adopt your beliefs. - Humans are inherently uncomfortable with disagreement. - You can audit a personal belief while still holding it, and regular auditing of personal beliefs is healthy. - Non-hostile arguments are a good way to audit those beliefs, and as such are healthy. # Definitions | Phrase | Definition | | ------------ | --------------------------------------- | | Epistemology | The philosophical analysis of knowledge |