Final answer:
Aristotle did not hold that ethics would provide as precise answers as mathematics; his view was more practical, focusing on virtuous development, societal relationships, and the aim of human flourishing. His ethical philosophy is based on practical wisdom rather than rigid mathematical certainty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Aristotle held that ethics, no less than mathematics, will give precise answers to our questions is false. While Plato believed that through abstract reasoning and mathematical contemplation one could unlock the ultimate truths of the universe, Aristotle’s perspective on ethics was more practical and less rigid. His work in the Nicomachean Ethics emphasized the importance of virtuous development and happiness or eudaimonia through the cultivation of virtues in the context of human society and its various relationships.
Aristotle's approach considered the reality that we can see and experience directly, placing emphasis on human behaviours, social interrelations, and the practical aspects of living a virtuous and flourishing life. Unlike mathematical concepts, which can often be defined and understood in terms of precise and unchanging truths, Aristotle’s ethical guidelines are situational and depend on the function and purpose of a human being within society.
In summary, true to his belief in the comprehensibility of the universe through reason and understanding the function of things, Aristotle’s view of ethics stands in contrast to the notion that ethics could provide as precise answers as a field such as mathematics might offer.