How Can Poiesis And Praxis Be Different Descriptions Of One And The Same Action?

Consider a case brought forward by Ackrill:a just man is paying off his debt by mending his neighbor’s fence.According to Aristotle,poiesis(which means making or production)is categorically different from praxis(which means virtuous action),for the former has an end other than itself,whereas the latter itself is an end.On the basis of this piece of text,we tend to think that mending a fence is poiesis and paying off a debt is praxis.Then he wonders,if there is only one action in the case,what the relation is between the action,on the one hand,and poiesis and praxis,on the other hand.Scenarios like this are puzzling because Ackrill is tempted to say both that poiesis and praxis describe the same action and that poiesis and praxis are categorically different actions.I analyze the problem into an inconsistent triad of claims.1.An action described by poiesis and an action described by praxis have different ends.2.If two actions have different ends,they cannot be counted as one.3.Some actions can be described both as poiesis and as praxis.Any two of the triad are contradictory with the third claim.Then which one,at any rate,is false?Ackrill(1978),Charles(1984),Freeland(1985)and Muller(2018)reject 3?whereas Whiting(2002)rejects 1.Contrary to all of them,Irwin(1986)and Angeir(2010)believe it better to reject 2.I will follow Irwin to reject 2,and accept 1 and 3.In other words,the essay will try to prove that although the ends of poiesis and praxis are different,poiesis and praxis can describe the same action.The part of Introduction will introduce the background of the problem and relevant literature.Chapter I will discuss the three ways,those scholars proposed,of treating the problem.My argument begins from Chapter Ⅱ where,as a preparation forChapter Ⅲ,Ⅰ will analyze the different characteristics of poiesis and praxis,and the reason why poiesis and praxis are different.The first two parts of Chapter Ⅲ will argue successively to accept 1 and 3,which disproves 2 indirectly.Then in order to strengthen my argument,the third part of Chapter Ⅲ will reject 2 in a direct way.Chapter IV will defend my argument against two objections.My final conclusion is that when the characteristics of poiesis and praxis are satisfied in one action,the action can be described both as poiesis and as praxis.At that time,poiesis and praxis are one in number but not one in being.My solution will keep the intuition for 3 while not undermining Aristotle’s statement of 1 and not contradicting Aristotle’s other texts.