The Pursuit Of Happiness By Aristotle - 1156 Words

The pursuit of happiness is the reason for our existence (Aristotle, 2004) The Greek word that usually gets translated as happiness is eudaimonia, and like most translations from ancient languages, there is a loss of deeper meaning in translation. According to Aristotle happiness (eudaimonia) is the central purpose of human life and a goal in itself (Aristotle, 2004) (Creed, Wardman 1963). Because of this ideology, Aristotle devoted much of his time discussing and explaining this philosophy (Hughes, 2001). Even though he lived on the other side of the world as Mencius, they both came to similar conclusions about happiness – it is the cultivation of virtue (Creed, Wardman 1963). These virtues when studied are more individualistic when compared to Confucian or Buddhist ideology. To Aristotle happiness was not just the not just a result of one facet of life but all facets - mental, spiritual, physical and social (Hardie, 1980). In this way he introduced the idea of that the purpo se (telos) of humanity was to pursue happiness (Eudemonia) (Aristotle, 2004) (Creed, Wardman 1963). In this paper I will discuss: what Eudemonia and telos are according to Aristotle and why I agree that the only life worth living is one that pursues his definition of happiness. One of Aristotle s most influential works is the Nicomachean Ethics. In these lectures he presents a theory of happiness that is still pondered today (Creed, Wardman 1963). The central question presented is ‘What is theShow MoreRelatedAristotle: The Pursuit of Happiness1358 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle and Plato both are both well known for their focus on defining the purpose of being human. To them, humans have a particular characteristic that no other living thing possesses. That characteristic is that humans strive to achieve a level of goodness. Although they agree with each other that there is a highest good one must achieve in order to live a fulfilling life, they have different ideas on what that good is. On Aristotle’s search to find the highest good of a human being, he firstRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Happiness By Aristotle2455 Words   |  10 PagesThe Pursuit of Happiness Some say that part of the human condition is the pursuit of happiness, but what is happiness? Is it having the best house and cars on the block? Is it he who has the most friends? To some, happiness is the highest level of success. In four pieces of work that we will be comparing, the protagonists are at odds with life. They are looking for something more that will help them find happiness. Happiness is not determined by what is happening around you, but rather what is happeningRead More The Pursuit of Happiness and the Union of Aristotle and Genesis2829 Words   |  12 PagesThe Pursuit of Happiness and the Union of Aristotle and Genesis Two major schools of thought broadly influenced the development of the moral code of Western Civilization. The Judeo-Christian tradition gave us faith and God through the text of the Bible. The ancient Greeks gave us philosophical inquiry and the Good through the teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle proposes that the Good is the highest end of man’s actions. Happiness is theRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness1509 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will focus on Aristotle’s claim that happiness is an activity and not just a momentary pleasure. Skeptics claim happiness is a state of mind and Aristotle is wrong to claim that happiness is an ongoing pursuit a person must actively strive for during one’s life. This paper argues that Aristotle is correct when he states that happiness is an activity, the central purpose of human life and a goal in itself that individuals strive for throughout the entirety of their lifet ime and ultimatelyRead MoreNicomachean Ethics: Leading a Virtuous Life880 Words   |  3 Pagesbeginning of their evolution, human beings have been searching for the meaning of happiness. While many may see this to be an inconsequential question, others have devoted entire lives to the search for happiness. One such person who devoted a great deal of thought to the question of mans happiness was the famous ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle. In his book The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discussed the meaning of happiness and what it meant to live a good life. He asserted that the devise which hasRead MoreThe Well Being Aristotle And Human Happiness1000 Words   |  4 PagesOur Well-Being: Aristotle and Human Happiness What is the purpose of a human being? â€Å"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence† (Nicomachean Ethics). When one thinks about happiness, these words said by Aristotle allow us to understand its significance. Through Aristotle’s teachings, he made it clear that the point of life is to be happy. Aristotle uses the word happiness as having to do with a person’s life as a whole, and not as the constant desireRead MoreAristotle s Morality Of Self Realisation862 Words   |  4 Pages Sean Blodgett PHI 101 Dr. Limnatis May. 1, 2016 ARISTOTLE: THE MORALITY OF SELF-REALISATION Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, helps to express the meaning behind ethics as well as to create a better society. Aristotle discusses the connection between morality and its connection to happiness, as well as being a fundamental root in human nature. To Aristotle, a man who faces a life of crime misunderstands what it is to follow moral standards. But also he is a man who â€Å" was unfortunate to haveRead MoreHappiness Is an Activity Essay1287 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper I will discuss Aristotle’s claim that happiness is a kind of activity and not a momentary pleasure. Some people might worry that Aristotle is wrong in making this claim by presuming that happiness is a state of mind rather than a constant pursuit in which a person must actively strive for throughout the entirety of ones life. I will argue that Aristotle is correct when he declares that happiness is a kind of activity that we strive for and ultimately attain throughout the entirety ofRead MoreWhy Sh ould I Be Moral?1394 Words   |  6 Pageswould be because you are. Happiness could also be included in the list of moral reasons. I personally feel that this is the best supported reason for being moral. Although there will be times when the moral decision will not be pleasurable, it will eventually lead to happiness. Morality is important for society as a whole, as it makes life livable. Now expanding on the happiness theory, I will discuss the ideas of Aristotle. Aristotle believed that happiness is the quality of whole humanRead MoreEthical Egoism, Ethical Altruism, And Eudaimonia1660 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom the gods. With time there was the dropping of the religious association of the word, and there was association of eudaimonia with having success, happiness and flourishing in life. Having unearthed the definitions of the terms, the discussion shall determine the differences between ethical altruism and ethical egoism, and how the aspects of Aristotle can aid the achievement of eudaimonia. As observed above, altruism puts the concerns of the other person at the forefront. Post, Underwood Schloss