Friday, October 9, 2009

Phronesis

In Aristotle's Ethics, the philosopher distinguishes between two distinct types of knowledge, phronesis and sophia. Sophia, often translated as "wisdom," is the type of episteme characterized by the perception of Truths about the nature of Being, e.g. the perception of forms and scientific truths. In contrast, phronesis denotes a level of expertise--the right action performed at the right time-- a sort of acquired ability or expertise. Aristotle describes a person who has acquired this type of knowledge as continuously acting appropriately with expertise, and always acting with the Good in mind.

In his Sein und Zeit (Being and Time), Heidegger describes the Dasein, his own take on one who has achieved phronesis. The essential
distinction between these two somewhat similar takes on expertise is Heidegger's omission of the Dasein acting for the Good. Hence, the Dasein could fully realize his phronesis by acting in the right moment without acting for the good. Much like most 19th and 20th century thought, teleology or acting with a telos it seems as if the Heideggarian Dasein acts without regard for Right action, only consciously proper action performed without thought, only mere expertise.

I am not sure what to do with these two takes on expertise as of yet. Does a master craftsmen also have to use his craft for the Good or does the perfection of his craft in itself represent the supreme pursuit?

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