"All men by nature desire to know." True or false? What do you think? ?

Question

What do you make of this quotation of Aristotle?

Answer 1

No, Because a lot of men think they know everything.

Answer 2

I think it's true.

But what we want most to know in life are the things we cannot ever see.

Answer 3

Yes we do.

Like me I desire to know what is going on inside this one girl's head. Is it a desire for friendship or perhaps more. Maybe I'm too much of a gentleman to ask or pursue the answer.

Answer 4

I believe it to be true but then again in using all in any argument is so risky.

Answer 5

It is true that Aristotle said the quoted contingent statement. I is also true ,as much as any induction can be true. Human beings are curious, until they are brain-dead. Aristotle based it on self-observation and he confirmed it observing others. I have absolutely no problem accepting the universality of the statement. I dare anyone to refute it on logical grounds or intuitive grounds. People who doubt it need to lay down on a therapist's couch and work it out--or take a good philosophy course to shake out their doubts and think things clearly. Neither suggestion is cheap these days! LOL

BTW, "exceptions to the rule" are hard to imagine, but are possible. Nothing said in induction is meant to be taken in absolute terms as anyone versed in rational thinking knows. Tautologies are absolute bec they are based on form and definition--but formal logic of deduction is not the issue here. We have to remind ourselves that there are two categories of basic inferences and they differ in the way we think of them. Aristotle's claim is not a tautology!

Answer 6

Hmm, I immediately thought of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when I read this.  Eve did not desire to know "naturally," the serpent tempted her and then she wanted to know.  The Tree of Knowledge had been there who knows how long and she never once questioned it until she was tempted.  So based on this I would say No, it's not by nature if we follow the Creation theory (which I choose to follow).  

Answer 7

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back!

Answer 8

I think it's truer than we often give it credit for.  Humans are pretty susceptible to "death" when left in a hostile environment.  It's our brain and the ability to "know" how, why, when, etc that has allowed us to exist and evolve in a variety of environments without being wiped out predators, natural disasters, insects or micro-organisms.

Sometimes, however, I think this trait bites us in the rear.  Take religion for instance.  It's an example of wanting to know, but not able to know ... so inventing something to fill the gap.  In general this could be a good thing by providing people with motivation and hope.  However, it's easily used to manipulate the masses and justify the doing of evil.  Listen to televangelists today ... scary, hate filled messages of action.  However, their blinded flock recite and obey because they "know" the truth ...

The desire to know doesn't always result in knowing and sometimes has ironic consequences.

Answer 9

True to some extent. But, overall I would have to say that

thiis is false.

Peace/JOY