“The irrational part of the soul includes the vegetative element, which has no share in reason.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 13
Explanation:
Aristotle distinguishes the soul’s vegetative element (自动的生命机能) as foundational yet unreachable by rationality — akin to plants growing without conscious will. This includes heartbeat, digestion, and cellular regeneration, forming the biological bedrock upon which reason and virtue operate. Like soil nourishing a tree, these automatic processes sustain but don’t dictate moral growth.
Real-World Connection:
① Stress Response →
You face public speaking → palms sweat/heart races (vegetative reaction) → use breathing techniques (rational intervention) → deliver speech successfully (soul hierarchy in action).
② Coma Patient Care →
Doctors maintain bodily functions (vegetative support) → family plays favorite music (emotional stimulus) → occasional neural responses observed (life beneath reason).
③ The Hidden Garden →
- Autopilot Sustenance: Liver detoxifies blood nightly without conscious command
- Rational Cultivation: Diet/exercise optimize these hidden processes
- Ethical Paradox: We’re stewards, not controllers, of our vegetative core