Aristotle believed virtues led to happiness
The happiness that Aristotle spoke of was not necessarily the same that we would think of today. Today our view of happiness tends to be hedonic. We want to feel good immediately and tend not to think too far ahead. So we see a night out or a pleasant activity as a route to happiness.
The ancient Greeks had a very different perspective on happiness. Aristotle spoke about achieving eudaimonia, which is roughly translated into happiness.
Eudaimonia is not an emotional state; it is more about being all that you can, fulfilling your potential. The idea is that by living in a way that reaches your full potential you bloom or flourish and so display the best version of you that you can be.
Aristotle thought that the practice of virtues would equate to happiness, in the sense of being all you could be. By virtues, Aristotle meant the act of achieving balance and moderation.
For example, courage would be the balance and moderation between excessive amounts, rashness and insufficient amounts, cowardice. Generosity would be the mid-ground between being a wasteful spendthrift and being a miser.
He strongly disagreed with Socrates who knowledge would automatically lead to the right action. Aristotle argued that the greatest misdeed was to know the right course, but fail to do it.
So for him it was the act of living in balance and moderation that brought the highest pleasure. Not in the action itself, but in the way of life. It is this way of life that would lead to the greatest long-term value rather than just a passing amusement. A modern illustration would be the difference between earning a high income, but spending it all and living in more moderation and having great wealth that will last you and provide security.
It was Aristotle’s belief that by achieving these virtues, happiness would result. So for him contemplation was the highest activity humans could do. Contemplation is the activity that refines and discovers virtues. Carried out continuously it allows you to reach your potential.
but aristotle's concepts is very idealistic isn't it???
but somehow some of his means are very practical…
Nice explination regarding the virtue and happiness….
just a suggestion it is better to put endnotes or footnotes for justification…..
thanks,,,,
That's a great clarification about the view of Aristotle concerning Happiness and the practice of moral virtues.I think it is necessary to point out that only moral virtues and not intellectual virtues are to lead to eudaimonia.
thanks for the help, it helped me tremendously on my school essay! keep it up!
we can not separate virtue and happiness hence you may be rich but not happy at all the happiness shaped with modes of life style you live depend on the nurturing surround you, virtue are in born of the person so happiness sympathize virtue depend on the life characteristics of the person
very interesting.. shows just how warped our view of happiness is today. ttisk tisk tisk..
Someone changed the Constitution of the U.S. from “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of pleasure.”
No wonder we have such problems.
your descriptyion is a great relief for me as their was an essay competition on this topic.
For i have waited for an answer to come and this is it; THANK U
Some people complain that Aristotle’s description of happiness is not motivating or inspiring. What would you say to these people?
I think it is inspiring personally. I would say that they haven’t taken the time to understand his view. Instead they have grabbed at an understanding of the words rather than the spirit of the message.
I find great inspiration in watching the Heroes in films like Braveheart, 300 and The Passion of The Christ because they lived out their beliefs and values.
That is the most difficult way to live, yet also the greatest example and greatest achievement to become a living example of virtuosity.
And in doing so, they have not achieved simply pleasure, but they have conquered the world.