Book 6 / Chapter 8
Paragraph 5 - Error in Deliberation
Explanation - Part By Part
"Further, error in deliberation may be either about the universal or about the particular; we may fall to know either that all water that weighs heavy is bad, or that this particular water weighs heavy."
In this part, Aristotle is explaining that when we make mistakes in our decision-making (or "deliberation," as he calls it), these errors can happen on two levels: the universal or the particular.
- At the universal level, we might get the general principle or rule wrong—for example, believing that "all water that weighs heavy is harmless" when, in fact, heavy water is harmful. This is an error in understanding the broader truth or principle.
- At the particular level, we might make a mistake about a specific case, like failing to recognize that "this specific water in front of us weighs heavy." Here, the issue lies in correctly identifying or interpreting the immediate situation.
Simply put, Aristotle is reminding us that good judgment depends on getting both the general rules and the specific details right. Missteps in either area can lead to poor decisions.