Happy Birthday to Travis

I once sat in on a philosophy lecture (at City not at Rice) where the professor was lecturing to freshman about the nature of ethical actions in the Aristotelean model. Aristotle, being Aristotle went about carving up the universe. Separating the good acts from the wicked ones, the intended acts from the unintended ones and the acts which we enjoy from the ones we do not. Then he re-assembles the whole thing in a multi-variable matrix such that the paragon of virtue is the one who does only good acts and all such acts are both intended and enjoyable (to the angel). The paragon of evil does only wicked deed such acts are both intended and enjoyable (to the deamon).

At this point the professor needed to sharpen the discussion a bit to explain that by "intended" Aristotle meant those acts which occured as a result of something that the person could control. He also went on to discuss how it was relevant to do the matrices with only two of the factors such that you could have acts under your control that you enjoy and acts under your control that you don't enjoy and act that merely happen that you don't enjoy. He paused because he couldn't think of things that you do, that you don't control, but enjoy.

"Professor," I said, "How about getting older?"

The professor thought about this out loud. Well, yes... getting older is clearly something that you do. No one does it to you, so it is your act. But you really do not have any intention or control when it happens. But who enjoys getting older?

"Little kids... and Travis," I thought. But I didn't say anything, I just shrugged.