Aristotle s Theory Of Happiness - 1782 Words

Happiness is intangible. It cannot be measured, touched, nor can it be profitable. Yet, it is the soul thing people seek in life. This prompts the question: how can one truly be happy? The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, argues in the Nicomachean Ethics that in order to be virtuous, we must act moderately. However, Bataille, a 20th century French philosopher, argues in The Accursed Share that human life is inevitably excessive, and that we need to waste gloriously. These adverse theories cause a paradoxical outcome regarding how one can achieve immense happiness: to be virtuous one must act both moderately and excessively. Over 2,300 years has passed since Aristotle wrote Nicomachean Ethics, yet his theory of happiness is still relevant today. In these lectures, Aristotle explores the purpose of human existence. Finding this purpose would later result in discovering how one should act in order to achieve happiness. Aristotle argues that virtues, such as honor, pleasure, and understandi ng, are only chosen â€Å"for the sake of happiness, supposing that through them we shall be happy†(Aristotle, 8). He claims that everyone would agree that all goods, like wealth and pleasure, are means towards obtaining pure happiness. Therefore, happiness is always the end itself. This revelation would in turn help find the function of the human being. On the search to find the function of the human being, Aristotle first needed to discover how we are different from a horse, or an ox. Like theseShow MoreRelatedAristotle s Theory Of Happiness1651 Words   |  7 PagesLife Happiness is one of the biggest subjects that have the most influence in a person’s life in today’s world. People have discovered that happiness is actually related to multiple benefits of our mental and physical health. Every person wants to experience true happiness throughout his/her life. Nevertheless, everyone is suffering finding sustainable happiness. Aristotle, in his work called Nicomachean Ethics, presents the concept that living a virtuous life will produce sustainable happiness forRead MoreAristotle s Theory Of Happiness2319 Words   |  10 Pagesanalogy works perfect to support this theory that happiness is the highest influence. He claimed that a beach dumb does not do anything productive all day, but lay on the beach and soak up sunrays, many people view that as a waste of life. However, Aristotle argues that it is not a waste of life because people naturally want what makes them happy. Most people view getting a job and working hard to gain money as hap piness likewise, the beach bum is achieving happiness in his own way by choosing to do whatRead MoreSimilarity Between Religion And Utilitarianism813 Words   |  4 Pagesare judged according to their consequences and the relevant consequence of every action is happiness. There is a similarity between religion and utilitarianism. For example, love includes wanting happiness and religious principles such as loving others the way you love yourself and doing to others what you expect them to you are founded on utilitarian principles. The ultimate goal for a utilitarian is happiness, which is also the main objective of religion. Utilitarian ethics replicates the main religiousRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Theories Of Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics1408 Words   |  6 PagesThe ancient theories of Plato and Aristotle differ greatly from the contemporary theories of Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics. Plato and Aristotle focused on the importance of virtue in an individual’s li fe. Plato believed that purity of the soul was the most important thing in life and can be achieved by mastering the four virtues: justice, wisdom, courage, and moderation. Aristotle believed that the goal of human life was to achieve happiness, which is made possible by the cultivation of a justRead MoreAristotles Contributions to the World: An Analysis1368 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Aristotle Aristotle Introduction If liberty and equality, as is thought by some are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. Law is order, and good law is good order. Man is by nature a political animal. ~Aristotle Philosophers, historians, scientists, politicians and other professionals across many disciplines consider Aristotle to be one of the greatest and prolific figures of the civilization of AncientRead MoreAristotles Philosophy on Purpose Essay884 Words   |  4 PagesAristotle, the last of the great Greek philosophers. He roamed Ancient Greece from 384 BC until his death in 323 BC. In this time, he wrote an enormous amount of works, a variety of books from metaphysics to politics and to poetry. His variety is exceptionally impressive. His greatest known works are the Athenian Constitution and Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle’s works of Ethics explore a vast area of topics. He states, â€Å"The goal of the Ethics is to determine how best to achieve happiness.† In orderRead MoreAristotle And Heidegger s Theories About Ethics1525 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle and Heidegger have contrasting theories about ethics. As Heidegger wrote his theories two thousand years later, it comes to question, is Heidegger is just contrasting Aristotle because as later stated it is hard to achieve both theories at the same time. Aristotle main points are trying to pursue excellence with reason and Heidegger compares one s authentic self and inauthentic self. This paper is discussing each philosophical theory pertaining to ethics and how these two philosophersRead MoreAristotle s Ethical Theory Of Ethics Essay1194 Words   |  5 Pagesand virtues of human beings. Ethics has to do with what is good or bad. It can be summed as a method by which we categorize our values and persue them. Aristotle’s Ethical Theory Aristotles philosophical expanation of ethics was an attempt to offer a rational response to the question of how humans should best live. Aristotle defined ethics as guiding morals and principles that construes humans towards living a better, fullfilled life as a result of being prudence by applying practical wisdom inRead MoreWhat Makes The Good For Humanity?819 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 1 Aristotle talk about what is the good for humanity and this will be for humans to be a vitreous person. Examples of some of these vitreous are courage, loyalty, integrity and moral. If ours society wish to succeed, we need to be a vitreous person. According to Christians, a vitreous person is the ideal person such as Christ in the bible. If we apply this kind of thinking we could build a good society and country. Question 2 Duty ethics also known as Deontology states that the individualRead MoreAncient Greek Philosophers Who Have Helped Shape The World1350 Words   |  6 Pagestwenty centuries ago, Greek philosopher Aristotle laid out the foundations of Western culture. The principles of Greek philosophy implemented its way into encompassing a persons point of view or their knowledge on society. Aristotle has helped improve and transmuted the world by his views on ethics and virtues he has instructed and justified thoroughly and the endowment of philosophy and science, whereas he created a comprehensive system of subjects. Aristotle has laid out virtues, which is the important