Aristotle’s Function Argument: Why the Human Purpose Debate Still Matters

For centuries, Aristotle’s Function Argument has stood as one of the most debated passages in his Nicomachean Ethics. From philosophy classrooms to online forums, it continues to raise questions: Does humanity truly have a defining function? If so, is reasoning really the core of human purpose?

Aristotle believed the human function is reasoning and contemplation, linking this directly to happiness (eudaimonia). But modern scholars, scientists, and even everyday readers often wonder if this view is too narrow.

This article not only explores the classic function argument but also offers fresh insights. Real-world parallels, personal reflections, and modern statistics demonstrate why this age-old debate remains relevant today.

The Overlooked Beginning of Aristotle’s Function Argument

Most readers jump straight to the famous claim that the human function is reasoning. But few stop to consider the introductory lines of the function argument, which Aristotle carefully sets up.

Aristotle begins by asking: How do we discover the good for man? His answer is that the best way is to study function (ergon). Just as every artisan has a function, so too must humans.

📖 Personal Reflection: When I first studied Aristotle in university, I dismissed these early lines as rhetorical fluff. But over time, I realized they lay the groundwork for his deeper claim – that goodness cannot be separated from purpose. It reminded me of career counseling sessions, where people often ask: What is my purpose? Aristotle’s argument suggests that answering this question is the same as asking: What is my function as a human being?

Clarifying Happiness Through Human Function

Aristotle distinguishes between popular views of happiness, wealth, pleasure, honor, and what he calls the chief good. For him, happiness (eudaimonia) is not a fleeting feeling but the fulfillment of human function.

This resonates with modern psychology. Studies from positive psychology (Seligman, 2011) show that long-term happiness comes less from pleasure and more from meaning and purpose, precisely what Aristotle suggested over 2,000 years ago.

👉 According to a 2021 Pew Research survey, 68% of Americans said “having meaning in life” is more important than wealth or success. Aristotle, it seems, was centuries ahead of his time.

The Concept of Ergon and Human Function

Aristotle’s use of ergon (function) sets the stage for his analogy: just as a flute player, sculptor, or carpenter has a function, humans must have one too. For him, this function is not survival (shared with plants and animals), but reasoning, the capacity to act according to rational principles.

🔎 Search Intent Insight: Many readers ask, “What exactly is ergon?” In simple terms, it is the characteristic activitythat defines something. For Aristotle, to find what makes humans unique, we must identify what we do that no other beings can.

Why Humans Have a Function: The Analogy of Artisans and Body Parts

Aristotle’s reasoning is bold yet simple:

• Eyes exist to see.
• Feet exist to walk.
• Carpenters exist to build.

Therefore, humans must also have a peculiar function. That function, he concludes, is reasoning and contemplation.

But here’s where modern critics push back. Just because parts of the body have functions doesn’t necessarily mean the whole human species must have one overarching function.

⚖️ Philosophy Classroom Story: During a seminar I attended, a student quipped: “If my iPhone has many apps, does it mean the iPhone has one ultimate function?” This playful analogy exposed the same flaw critics find in Aristotle: moving from part-to-whole reasoning.

For more on how ancient reasoning connects to today’s social debates, explore our piece on Social Privilege and Oppression: Reflecting on Identity and Injustice.

Reasoning as the Human Function

Despite objections, Aristotle’s Function Argument is compelling because reasoning does distinguish humans from animals.

• A good shoemaker makes good shoes.
• A good eye makes clear vision.
• A good human, then, reasons well.

This raises a profound question: Are we living up to our function as humans if we do not cultivate reason and reflection?

📊 Modern Stat: According to the World Economic Forum (2023), critical thinking and problem-solving are ranked the #1 most important skills for the future workforce. Aristotle’s point about reasoning being central to humanity seems validated by today’s demands.

Final Causes and the Pursuit of Goodness

Aristotle ties human function to his broader theory of final causes, everything acts toward an end. Just as seeds grow into trees and acorns into oaks, humans must also strive toward their natural end.

For Aristotle, this end is eudaimonia through reasoning. Importantly, he warns against infinite desire: if humans constantly chase one thing after another, life becomes empty. Instead, happiness is found in achieving our ultimate function.

Objections to Aristotle’s Function Argument

1. The Weakness of Inductive Reasoning

Aristotle’s reasoning is inductive: just because many things have functions, humans must have one too. Critics argue this leap is unjustified.

2. Limitations of His Analogies

Comparing humans to artisans is problematic; artisans have functions because society assigns them, not because nature dictates them.

3. Inconsistency in Defining Function

Body parts have biological functions; artisans have social roles. Humans? It’s not clear whether Aristotle means biological, social, or metaphysical functions.

💬 Personal Insight: This critique feels like asking whether life has meaning “by design” or whether we create it ourselves. Perhaps Aristotle’s mistake was assuming a universal function instead of recognizing that meaning may be individually constructed.

Conclusion: Evaluating the Validity of the Function Argument

At its core, Aristotle’s Function Argument pushes us to think deeply about purpose. Even if his analogy is weak, the idea that humans achieve happiness by fulfilling their unique potential resonates strongly today.

Modern psychology, workforce studies, and even personal reflections confirm: reasoning, contemplation, and purpose-driven living still define the good life.

For a modern exploration of function and activism, see our related article: Martin Luther King vs. Alicia Garza: Purpose and Social Impact.

FAQs on Aristotle’s Function Argument

Q1: What is Aristotle’s Function Argument in simple terms?
It’s the idea that humans, like tools or body parts, must have a unique function. For Aristotle, this function is reasoning, and fulfilling it leads to happiness.

Q2: Why is Aristotle’s Function Argument controversial?
Because it assumes, without proof, that humans must have a function, and it relies heavily on analogies that critics find weak.

Q3: Is the Function Argument still relevant today?
Yes. While debated, modern science and psychology suggest purpose and reasoning remain central to happiness and human development.

References

• Evans, L.E.J., 2019. Aristotle’s Function Argument: The Human Function and its Peculiarity (Doctoral dissertation, UCL).
• Ross, W., n.d. Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. [Online] Classics.mit.edu.