Aristotle's discussions about Tuche (Τύχη) or fortune have obvious contradictions in two domains of ontology and axiology. In the domain of ontology, he has testified to the existence of fortune as a cause by accident- a cause by accident for an event which has occurred out of a choice based on thought and for a given intention. Aristotle believes that fortune-based affairs are subjects of intention and intellection which emerge from those agents who can take volitional actions. At the same time, he introduced fortune as an anti-rule and instable affair with indeterminate and purposeless causes. He accepted the existence of fortune even in the domain of the actions related to Techne and human happiness. However, he does not attach any value to it in axiology and declares it to be a cause by accident that comes after nature and intellect, even believing that there is no knowledge for it. Moreover, it is valueless in the domain of the action related to human happiness.
1- Aristotle, (1926), Aristotle: the art of rhetoric, with an English translation by John Henry Freese, Harvard university press.
2- Aristotle, (1944) Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 21 (politics), translated by H. Rackham. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
3- Aristotle, (1955). Aristotle: On Sophistical Refutations. On Coming-to-be and Passing Away. Translated by Forster, E. S., Harvard University Press.
4- Aristotle, (1981), Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 20 (Eudemian Ethics), translated by H. Rackham. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
5- Aristotle, (1985), politics, translated by Hamid Enayat, Tehran. [Persian]
6- Aristotle, (2004), Nicomachean Ethics, Translated and Edited by Roger Crisp, Cambridge University Press.
7- Aristotle, (2006a), Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Mohammad Hasan Lotfi, Tehran, Tarh_e_No press. [Persian]
8- Aristotle, (2006b), physics, translated by Mohammad Hasan Lotfi, Tehran, Tarh_e_No press. [Persian]
9- Aristotle, (2006c), Metaphysics, translated by Mohammad Hasan Lotfi, Tehran, Tarh_e_No press. [Persian]
10- Aristotle, (2013), the art of rhetoric, translated by, Esmail Saadat, Tehran, Hermes press. [Persian]
11- Aristotle, Edward S. Forster, and Hugh Tredennick. (1960) The Organon: Posterior analytics;[translated] by Hugh Tredennick Topica;[translated] by ES Forster. Heinemann.
12- Aristotle. (1933, 1989), Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vols.17, 18, (Metaphysics), translated by Hugh Tredennick. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
13- Cardullo, L. (2014), "Il concetto di fortuna (τυχη ed ευτυχια) in Aristotele." Spazio filosofico 12 pp: 541-554.
14- Freeman, Kathleen, 1948, Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers, by Herman Diels, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press.
15- Huismann, T. (2016). Aristotle on accidental causation. Journal of the American Philosophical Association 2.4 pp: 561-575.
16- Lennox, J. G. (1984), Aristotle on chance. pp: 52-60.
17- Samadieh, Maryam and Majid Mollayousefi (2017), Aristotle and Phronesis (practical wisdom), Journal of Ayeneh Marefat, No 53, pp 1-24. [Persian]
18- Tabaczek, M. (2013), Aristotle's Concept of Chance: Accidents, Cause, Necessity, and Determinism. By John Dudley. American Catholic Philosophical, Quarterly 87.4 pp: 779-781.
19- Pritzl, K. (1983) Aristotle and Happiness after Death: Nicomachean Ethics 1. 10-11.Classical Philology 78.2: pp 101-111.
20- DuBois, E. C. (2014) Does Happiness Die With Us? An Aristotelian Examination of the Fort. Journal of Philosophy of Life Vol.4, No.1 (January 2014):28-37
Pritzl K (1983). Aristotle and happiness after death: Nicomachean ethics 1.10-11. Classical Philology. 78(2):101-111. [Link] [DOI:10.1086/366765]
Samadieh M, Mollayousefi M (2017). Aristotle and Phronesis (practical wisdom). Ayeneh Marefat. 17(4):1-24. [Persian] [Link]
Tabaczek OM (2013). Aristotle's concept of chance: Accidents, cause, necessity, and determinism; By John Dudley. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. 87(4):779-781. [Link] [DOI:10.5840/acpq201387456]
Samadieh,M. (2025). The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View. Philosophical Thought, 2(3), 237-247. doi: 10.58209/jpt.2.3.237
MLA
Samadieh,M. . "The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View", Philosophical Thought, 2, 3, 2025, 237-247. doi: 10.58209/jpt.2.3.237
HARVARD
Samadieh M. (2025). 'The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View', Philosophical Thought, 2(3), pp. 237-247. doi: 10.58209/jpt.2.3.237
CHICAGO
M. Samadieh, "The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View," Philosophical Thought, 2 3 (2025): 237-247, doi: 10.58209/jpt.2.3.237
VANCOUVER
Samadieh M. The Ontological and Axiological Position of Tuche or Fortune in Aristotle's View. Philosophical Thought, 2025; 2(3): 237-247. doi: 10.58209/jpt.2.3.237