Aristotle s Views On Happiness - 2248 Words

Happiness is the fundamental objective of life. This bold statement is unanimously agreed upon among generations of people on every corner of our planet. However, the real question that has been contested for centuries is the true meaning of happiness? The true meaning of happiness is one of the most highly debated philosophy topics in history. Most famous are the writings of Aristotle and John Stuart Mill who both paint very opposing pictures of happiness. Mill believes happiness is obtained through pleasure and the absence of pain. On the other hand, Aristotle insist happiness is obtained through living a fulfilling, virtuous life. This passage will examine Aristotle s and Mill s views on happiness as well as give an opinion one which philosophical theory is most convincing. Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time created an idea that happiness is the ultimate end goal. This world renowned philosopher argues that exercising a fulfilling life will lead to happiness. Likewise, happiness is said to be the ultimate end goal of all activities in life. Basically, Aristotle portrays every activity as a subordinate to becoming happy. He argues that being self sufficient, and leading a fulfilling life will create happiness through virtue. A virtuous person is noble and possess the ability to rationalize. In order to be noble one must posses the ability to create equilibrium of the soul. That is, staying within the mean. Similar to the mean, Aristotle depictsShow MoreRelatedAristotle s Views On Happiness1394 Words   |  6 Pages Happiness Happiness. It is not measurable, profitable, nor tradable. Yet, above all else in the world, it is what people seek. There are many claims that happiness can be achieved through money, yet many challenge that theory. The modern definition of happiness claimed by the dictionary is â€Å"feelings of joy and pleasure mingled together†. In other words, it is claimed to be a state of mind. However, Aristotle proposed that, rather than being a state of emotion throughout life, happiness is the finalRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness999 Words   |  4 PagesAristotle, Epicurus, Epictetus, Boethius, Augustine, and Aquinas connected on writing about the phenomenon of human happiness. Through these philosophers, various ideologies on happiness gets to be distinctly conceivable for one to distinguish and recognize the difference between what people think or feel happiness is and what the true state of happiness is. In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle said happiness is the value and reason for every good thing, so happiness is deserving of respect. ForRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness1505 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle argues that the most important thing in peoples lives is the virtue of happiness. He writes that one attains happiness by living a life of virtue - our definition is in harmony with those who say that happiness is virtue, or a particular virtue; because an activity in accordance with virtue implies virtue. Indeed, we may go further and assert that anyone who does not delight in fine actions is not even a good man.(Aristotle) A life of virtue implies a life of reasoning for the end goalRead 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 pursui t 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 lifetime and ultimatelyRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness1582 Words   |  7 Pagesothers. For example, there is almost nothing from Aristotle that I agree with, but I agree with almost everything Berry says. In this essay, I will walk through Aristotle, Berry, and Day, and decide whether I agree or disagree. Then, I will give my own personal view on happiness. ARISTOTLE: Aristotle was an Ancient Greek philosopher who was taught by Plato, and taught Alexander the Great. In his writings, Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states that happiness is a way of walking through life, and is a completeRead MoreAristotle s View Of Happiness1810 Words   |  8 PagesAccording to Aristotle, happiness is the highest goal of a human being, because it is the only goal that is an end in itself, and is not pursued for the sake of something else. He defines happiness as: â€Å"activity of the soul in accordance with complete virtue in a complete life.† He then goes on, in Book X, to argue that the complete happiness for human beings lies in the life of study. Plato, on the other hand, does agree that all humans aim to achieve the highest goal or end (telos), but does notRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness And Moral Virtue Essay1593 Words   |  7 PagesTiverio Madrigal Landa Philosophy 002 October 13, 2016 Happiness and Moral Virtue Every few decades, an individual revolutionizes the way that we think and perceive the world. During the year 300 B.C., the foundation of philosophy was started by Aristotle and his learning from Plato and Socrates. A few centuries later, Thomas Hobbes beliefs challenged Aristotle s views. At the time, it was not known that their ideas would revolutionize the way we see the world around us today. Even though theyRead MoreAristotle s Views On Human Happiness1022 Words   |  5 Pages2 -PURPOSE OF HAPPINESS For Aristotle, happiness was related to a natural function. He argued that if we as human fulfilled our natural function/purpose then we will be able to be happy and â€Å"want for nothing at all† (page 91). Aristotle believed that human happiness refers to the function most proper to the human should and essentially the function must be exclusive to human. He argues that this supposed function is a practical aspect of life that comes from the rational part within humans. The useRead MoreAristotle s Views On Morality And Happiness1948 Words   |  8 PagesJared Sanders 5/4/16 PHI 372: Ethical Inquiry Term Paper What, if anything, does happiness have to do with morality. According to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, there is a direct connection between morality and happiness. Aristotle states that happiness is the main goal of human existence. He follows this idea by saying the only way to achieve happiness is through his account of morality. Aristotle’s â€Å"happiness† is a translation of the Greek word Eudaimonia. A definition of Eudaimonia could be â€Å"theRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Aristotle s Views On Happiness And Human Flourishing With His Philosophy991 Words   |  4 Pagesback. For example, I put into my life my thoughts, my beliefs and my behaviors. What I get back from this is my reality that my thoughts, beliefs and behaviors have created. In my philosophy like Aristotle, I believe in Aristotle’s views on happiness and human flourishing with his philosophy. (Aristotle 4) I also believe in some of Kant’s philosophy through his concept of its our duty to live up to our highest moral capacity. (Kant 3) I believe it will make the world a better place in the sense that