| I'm So Bored with the U.S.A. |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|05:36 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  working | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Depeche Mode, "Lilian" | ] |
Now we say that the function of a [kind of thing]--of a harpist, for instance--is the same in kind as the function of an excellent individual of the kind--of an excellent harpist, for instance. And the same is true without qualification in every case, if we add to the function the superior achievement in accord with the virtue; for the function of the harpist is to play the harp, and the function of the good harpist to play it well.
--Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1098a10 One hears the question a lot: Is the President doing a good job?
I recently overheard the following exhange in the faculty lounge at one of the schools where I teach:
Faculty Member #1: ...So what do you actually think of Obama?
Faculty Member #2: I think he's really naive.
FM1: Wha--naive?! The guy is a constitutional law scholar! What more can you ask for in a President's qualifications?!
FM2: Exactly, he's a law scholar; the guy doesn't know anything about economics!
These two gentlemen are, of course, arguing at cross purposes. But regardless of whether either or both of them is correct, it raises an interesting question: What is the President's job?
( Ask a stupid question... ) |
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