Happiness according to Webster’s dictionary “an agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness.” Aristotle felt happiness is an important element in achieving the good life and happiness is the ultimate end for humanity. My paper will answer at hand is happiness the ultimate end? Through Aristotle’s philosophical argumentation of happiness I will demonstrate by leading a completely virtuous life the ultimate end is happiness. To Aristotle happiness is not a state rather it is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. Furthermore an individual must continuously perform virtuous acts and develop a virtuous character in order to achieve complete happiness. In my paper I will attempt to explain Aristotle’s theory of happiness and over the course of my paper I will answer the topic at hand.
To understand my thesis one must first understand Aristotle’s guidelines for attaining the ultimate end, happiness. Having been regarded one of the greatest philosopher in history Aristotle begins his book, Nicomachean Ethics to say in order to understand happiness one must first understand the nature. Similarly like an archer aims at his target before launching his arrow. Happiness is an absolute and ultimate end. Aristotle held that the ultimate goal is for an individual to be happy; they must live a good and virtuous life. All of our actions are based on achieving happiness. In book I, chapter XIII of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states “happiness is a certain activity of the soul in accord with complete virtue.” Happiness is a human good for it cannot be achieved by animals because they are incapable of rational and logical thought, (Book X, chapter VIII) “…none of the other animals possess happiness, because they are entirely incapable of contemplation.” By providing good actions the individual comes closer to the ultimate end. The practice of good virtues equates to happiness. It is the virtues that led to happiness. The action cannot be virtuous if it is not an actual good. For Aristotle true happiness can only be achieved in a perfectly virtuous person. Every good action attests to a happy and virtuous life. Even though happiness is the main goal of everyone it can symbolize various things to various people. Individuals become virtuous by performing good actions. An individual will try to achieve happiness and a virtuous life by developing a good virtue of character. According to Aristotle in book I, chapter VII “virtue is its own reward” through the development of virtues can true happiness be attained to complete the human life. Happiness is an ultimate, independent, and complete good. Happiness is desired for itself only and it satisfies all desires, wishes, and needs due to this happiness is the ultimate end.
The virtuous person can only achieve happiness through moral and intellectual elements. Good virtues are good habits of the soul. The virtue of the character is developed through good habituation. By abiding to these good habits and laws we perfect our self-control and become more disciplined. Good habits are reinforced through the good actions that we provide. By acting virtuous the person becomes virtuous and will take pleasure in being virtuous. Aristotle views that certain goods are necessary for happiness. Virtue is divided into two sorts (Book I, chapter 13): there are virtues of mind and intellect and then the ethical virtues of character. The virtues of mind and intellect pertain to the reasoning and logical thought of the soul. The ethical virtues of character are concerned with the part of the soul that is incapable of reasoning and logical thought of the soul. Everyone can achieve a virtuous life, through the development of their reasoning and logical thinking. Aristotle believes it is during childhood that the child must develop good habits and as they get older they will attain wisdom. Aristotle assumes the types of people that constantly do evil and bad in life are less rational but to prevent this destructive behavior it is important to have good habits. Aristotle knows happiness is achieved for those that reflect on life intelligently and rationally. Aristotle theorizes that virtue is obtaining happiness through the means of a particular purpose. Every mean has an ultimate end objective which through good habits and actions of the soul, the individual can achieve the ultimate end objective. It is the human soul that is able to rationalize and reason, this is what separates us from animals and makes us human. Through good habit an individual’s moral virtue will develop. Virtues are means of happiness. Every human possess a pursuit of pleasure which propels us in achieving our purpose. A balance of two vices each excessive and deficient in their means of good is learned through good habits. When one has achieved happiness, he is able to flourish towards human superiority. They are capable of gaining virtue through logic and rational thought. They are humans that change and lead people towards achieving happiness.
Ultimately, Aristotle formulates that happiness and virtue are unbreakable. Virtue is reliant upon happiness in order to flourish. To Aristotle happiness is the result of leading a virtuous life. The good life is absolute happiness and not provisional because it is a state in which an individual demonstrates complete virtue. Aristotle views the good life is societal. The perfect society will distribute virtuous people. It is a state of excellence therefore each individual must be equally virtuous so no individual has to do something in account for someone else. Aristotle holds a great value for friendship. The need for friendships parallels the need for justice therefore friendships are necessary. Good people are considered good friends. Good friends want what is good for themselves and good for others. Virtuous and good people will build loyal friendships with other virtuous and good people. Birds of the same feather stick together, so those that are good people will stay with other good people but those that are bad people will stay with other bad people. Most times friends of different class systems become friends for certain benefits and advantages. In politics, men form political friendships and groups for their own advantages. The friendship formed depends on the political system that surrounds them. Citizens form brotherly friendships and they have shared virtues and equalities. These friendships compliment each other because both parties contribute to the wellbeing of the community. These people of good virtue are connected through mutual respect and virtue. To Aristotle friendship was to love rather than to be loved. The key element to leading a good and happy life was the value of friendship. The pursuit of happiness was wanted by everyone. The fundamental to being happy begins when the state of excellence is created through reason, habituation, and nature. Excellence is created when a child is young. The parents must instill good habits and train the child to be virtuous in their reason so they can live a good life. Good virtues are important because it will enable the virtuous one to obtain their pleasures. Happiness can only be achieved by combining good habit and virtuous reasoning. Even though the good life is different for each individual according to one’s virtue, each individual must possess good habits and virtuous reasoning when striving for happiness. For Aristotle, The ultimate end is Happiness because it is the highest of all other goods associated with living a good life. All means of action are aimed towards an ultimate end. Virtue is the state of the individual that makes the individual good and present good actions. Since happiness is the ultimate good then the reasoning and actions of all individuals should be to achieve happiness.
Happiness is an absolute and ultimate end. “Happiness then, is found to be something perfect and self-sufficient, being the end to which our actions are directed” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter VII). Aristotle held that the ultimate goal is for an individual to be happy; they must live a good and virtuous life. All of our actions are based on achieving happiness. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics provides descriptions of human happiness, nature of a good person, virtues of character, virtues of the intellect, the means and the ends. All people strive for some ultimate end. Aristotle proclaims that the highest end to all other ends is achieving happiness. Happiness comes in accord with virtue. A happy life is maintained through the right virtuous choices we make. Achieving happiness is an effort; it is important to associate with good people and with good people come good pleasures. In order to achieve happiness one must have a complete and virtuous life.
Aristotle distinguishes the difference between a man and a beast is the capability of rational thinking, there having a mind. In Book X of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle ultimately believes the highest good, the greatest happiness for man is his mind. For the individual awareness of his mind, “Anybody can enjoy bodily pleasures—a slave no less than the best of men—but nobody attributes a part in happiness to a slave...” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, Chapter VI). Since virtue is the part of the soul that controls our actions and behaviors to act virtuously. According to Aristotle the good life comes when the individual has achieved the perfect practice of virtue.
Clearly for Aristotle the life of complete virtue is a good life. The good life is a state in which the individual is completely happy. The perfect state is the leading a virtuous life. However the idea of the good life is different for every individual depending upon the life lead in accord with virtue and each individual possess different virtues. According to Aristotle achieving the perfect state through collective means the good life can be achieved. Furthermore, Aristotle demonstrates how through virtue, happiness can be achieved. Thoroughly I will break down Aristotle’s argument to ultimately proving my thesis. First Aristotle divides the good into three parts, goods of the body, goods of the soul and external goods (Book I, Chapter VI). He continues to mention through virtue one can attain external goods. In order to live the good life the individual must have goods of the body, goods of the soul and external goods. To elaborate happiness is often associated with those who possess wisdom, develop a good character, and have wealth. The life of virtue is an active life of the soul as means to reach an ultimate end, happiness. After much consideration then it can be determined one has all three aspects equally distributed. For example one cannot have more wisdom then goodness. Since the good life is collective then there is no action necessary just living virtuously and having virtuous goals one can ultimately achieves happiness. To achieve the ultimate end Aristotle mentions three things that can lead to happiness. Individuals should retain a good character, good habits, and reason which in return form a virtuous individual. To achieve these three is through good habits during birth and a good education. One must be trained to be virtuous and develop virtuous acts so it is the state’s responsibility for providing a good life for the individual.
Since happiness is a collective societal accomplishment each individual must be equally virtuous this way no individual is then responsible for the other individual not leading a virtuous lifestyle. Aristotle provides the relationship between happiness and virtue in Book I, Chapter VII happiness is the highest good when the activity of the soul is in accord with moral and intellectual virtues. Later on in Book X, Chapter VI, wisdom is used to achieve happiness with justice and moral virtues.
To understand my thesis one must first understand Aristotle’s guidelines for attaining the ultimate end, happiness. Having been regarded one of the greatest philosopher in history Aristotle begins his book, Nicomachean Ethics to say in order to understand happiness one must first understand the nature. Similarly like an archer aims at his target before launching his arrow. Happiness is an absolute and ultimate end. Aristotle held that the ultimate goal is for an individual to be happy; they must live a good and virtuous life. All of our actions are based on achieving happiness. In book I, chapter XIII of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states “happiness is a certain activity of the soul in accord with complete virtue.” Happiness is a human good for it cannot be achieved by animals because they are incapable of rational and logical thought, (Book X, chapter VIII) “…none of the other animals possess happiness, because they are entirely incapable of contemplation.” By providing good actions the individual comes closer to the ultimate end. The practice of good virtues equates to happiness. It is the virtues that led to happiness. The action cannot be virtuous if it is not an actual good. For Aristotle true happiness can only be achieved in a perfectly virtuous person. Every good action attests to a happy and virtuous life. Even though happiness is the main goal of everyone it can symbolize various things to various people. Individuals become virtuous by performing good actions. An individual will try to achieve happiness and a virtuous life by developing a good virtue of character. According to Aristotle in book I, chapter VII “virtue is its own reward” through the development of virtues can true happiness be attained to complete the human life. Happiness is an ultimate, independent, and complete good. Happiness is desired for itself only and it satisfies all desires, wishes, and needs due to this happiness is the ultimate end.
The virtuous person can only achieve happiness through moral and intellectual elements. Good virtues are good habits of the soul. The virtue of the character is developed through good habituation. By abiding to these good habits and laws we perfect our self-control and become more disciplined. Good habits are reinforced through the good actions that we provide. By acting virtuous the person becomes virtuous and will take pleasure in being virtuous. Aristotle views that certain goods are necessary for happiness. Virtue is divided into two sorts (Book I, chapter 13): there are virtues of mind and intellect and then the ethical virtues of character. The virtues of mind and intellect pertain to the reasoning and logical thought of the soul. The ethical virtues of character are concerned with the part of the soul that is incapable of reasoning and logical thought of the soul. Everyone can achieve a virtuous life, through the development of their reasoning and logical thinking. Aristotle believes it is during childhood that the child must develop good habits and as they get older they will attain wisdom. Aristotle assumes the types of people that constantly do evil and bad in life are less rational but to prevent this destructive behavior it is important to have good habits. Aristotle knows happiness is achieved for those that reflect on life intelligently and rationally. Aristotle theorizes that virtue is obtaining happiness through the means of a particular purpose. Every mean has an ultimate end objective which through good habits and actions of the soul, the individual can achieve the ultimate end objective. It is the human soul that is able to rationalize and reason, this is what separates us from animals and makes us human. Through good habit an individual’s moral virtue will develop. Virtues are means of happiness. Every human possess a pursuit of pleasure which propels us in achieving our purpose. A balance of two vices each excessive and deficient in their means of good is learned through good habits. When one has achieved happiness, he is able to flourish towards human superiority. They are capable of gaining virtue through logic and rational thought. They are humans that change and lead people towards achieving happiness.
Ultimately, Aristotle formulates that happiness and virtue are unbreakable. Virtue is reliant upon happiness in order to flourish. To Aristotle happiness is the result of leading a virtuous life. The good life is absolute happiness and not provisional because it is a state in which an individual demonstrates complete virtue. Aristotle views the good life is societal. The perfect society will distribute virtuous people. It is a state of excellence therefore each individual must be equally virtuous so no individual has to do something in account for someone else. Aristotle holds a great value for friendship. The need for friendships parallels the need for justice therefore friendships are necessary. Good people are considered good friends. Good friends want what is good for themselves and good for others. Virtuous and good people will build loyal friendships with other virtuous and good people. Birds of the same feather stick together, so those that are good people will stay with other good people but those that are bad people will stay with other bad people. Most times friends of different class systems become friends for certain benefits and advantages. In politics, men form political friendships and groups for their own advantages. The friendship formed depends on the political system that surrounds them. Citizens form brotherly friendships and they have shared virtues and equalities. These friendships compliment each other because both parties contribute to the wellbeing of the community. These people of good virtue are connected through mutual respect and virtue. To Aristotle friendship was to love rather than to be loved. The key element to leading a good and happy life was the value of friendship. The pursuit of happiness was wanted by everyone. The fundamental to being happy begins when the state of excellence is created through reason, habituation, and nature. Excellence is created when a child is young. The parents must instill good habits and train the child to be virtuous in their reason so they can live a good life. Good virtues are important because it will enable the virtuous one to obtain their pleasures. Happiness can only be achieved by combining good habit and virtuous reasoning. Even though the good life is different for each individual according to one’s virtue, each individual must possess good habits and virtuous reasoning when striving for happiness. For Aristotle, The ultimate end is Happiness because it is the highest of all other goods associated with living a good life. All means of action are aimed towards an ultimate end. Virtue is the state of the individual that makes the individual good and present good actions. Since happiness is the ultimate good then the reasoning and actions of all individuals should be to achieve happiness.
Happiness is an absolute and ultimate end. “Happiness then, is found to be something perfect and self-sufficient, being the end to which our actions are directed” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter VII). Aristotle held that the ultimate goal is for an individual to be happy; they must live a good and virtuous life. All of our actions are based on achieving happiness. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics provides descriptions of human happiness, nature of a good person, virtues of character, virtues of the intellect, the means and the ends. All people strive for some ultimate end. Aristotle proclaims that the highest end to all other ends is achieving happiness. Happiness comes in accord with virtue. A happy life is maintained through the right virtuous choices we make. Achieving happiness is an effort; it is important to associate with good people and with good people come good pleasures. In order to achieve happiness one must have a complete and virtuous life.
Aristotle distinguishes the difference between a man and a beast is the capability of rational thinking, there having a mind. In Book X of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle ultimately believes the highest good, the greatest happiness for man is his mind. For the individual awareness of his mind, “Anybody can enjoy bodily pleasures—a slave no less than the best of men—but nobody attributes a part in happiness to a slave...” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, Chapter VI). Since virtue is the part of the soul that controls our actions and behaviors to act virtuously. According to Aristotle the good life comes when the individual has achieved the perfect practice of virtue.
Clearly for Aristotle the life of complete virtue is a good life. The good life is a state in which the individual is completely happy. The perfect state is the leading a virtuous life. However the idea of the good life is different for every individual depending upon the life lead in accord with virtue and each individual possess different virtues. According to Aristotle achieving the perfect state through collective means the good life can be achieved. Furthermore, Aristotle demonstrates how through virtue, happiness can be achieved. Thoroughly I will break down Aristotle’s argument to ultimately proving my thesis. First Aristotle divides the good into three parts, goods of the body, goods of the soul and external goods (Book I, Chapter VI). He continues to mention through virtue one can attain external goods. In order to live the good life the individual must have goods of the body, goods of the soul and external goods. To elaborate happiness is often associated with those who possess wisdom, develop a good character, and have wealth. The life of virtue is an active life of the soul as means to reach an ultimate end, happiness. After much consideration then it can be determined one has all three aspects equally distributed. For example one cannot have more wisdom then goodness. Since the good life is collective then there is no action necessary just living virtuously and having virtuous goals one can ultimately achieves happiness. To achieve the ultimate end Aristotle mentions three things that can lead to happiness. Individuals should retain a good character, good habits, and reason which in return form a virtuous individual. To achieve these three is through good habits during birth and a good education. One must be trained to be virtuous and develop virtuous acts so it is the state’s responsibility for providing a good life for the individual.
Since happiness is a collective societal accomplishment each individual must be equally virtuous this way no individual is then responsible for the other individual not leading a virtuous lifestyle. Aristotle provides the relationship between happiness and virtue in Book I, Chapter VII happiness is the highest good when the activity of the soul is in accord with moral and intellectual virtues. Later on in Book X, Chapter VI, wisdom is used to achieve happiness with justice and moral virtues.
1 comment:
Sathyam vadha.Dharmam chara------says Vedha.Yes.Aristotle explains the same for happiness.Articles. of this kind should be shown to the youngsters .If an individual develope virtues everywhere we can find happiness alone.
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