Aristotle: Happiness and Virtue

Quote:

          “With those who identify happiness with virtue or some one virtue our account is in harmony; for to virtue belongs virtuous activity. But it makes, perhaps, no small difference whether we place the chief good in possession or in use, in state of mind or in activity.”

What I Expect To Learn:

            I expect to learn from this chapter, Aristotle’s concept of happiness and virtue. I expect to learn the true meaning of happiness and virtue as defined by Aristotle. I also would like to learn about how Aristotle views moral virtues and of course, I also want to learn why he thinks that a philosopher will be happier than anyone else.

Chapter Review:

            According to Aristotle, happiness is an activity of the soul. Sadly, most of us define happiness as pleasure in which we find enjoyment in material and very shallow things. This means that we find enjoyment and pleasure in things that do not usually last for a lifetime and we call these things or instances as happiness. On the other hand virtue is a state of character concerned with choice. Aristotle claims that virtue is a mean with regards to what is best and right. Virtue is something that allows us to decide on what is right and what is wrong. It helps us find the best in us that we cannot see through our eyes. In my understanding, this is how virtue relates to happiness.

          Another point which Aristotle has included in his discussion is the concept of moral virtue. According to Aristotle, moral virtue is something which we learn as a result of habit. We do not gain moral virtue by nature instead we gain it by result of habit and practicing it. As explained by Aristotle, moral virtue is a state of character that is a mean between an excess and a deficiency.

          We can gain happiness through contemplation and achieving moral virtue, Aristotle said. Then again, can all of us be really happy? I really doubt that all of us can be happy unless everyone learns to be contented and happy with things that are not of material or temporary value. I think that people would only be truly happy if they learn the true meaning and value of happiness which is way beyond the temporary and material possessions which we have come to love as it provides us with great pleasure.

What I Learned:

          On Aristotle’s discussion, I have learned the true value and meaning of happiness which is beyond all the material and temporary things. I have fully understood that pleasure is different from happiness and that we should not define happiness as pleasure. Another thing I learned is that philosophers are more likely to be happy because of the way they think. Unlike us, they can contemplate easily anytime and anywhere they want and contemplation allows them to relax and thus think well and clear resulting to genuine happiness. We, on the other hand, have become too attached and busy enjoying all of life’s pleasure because we tend to misinterpret happiness as pleasure.

Integrative Questions: 

1. What is the meaning of genuine happiness?
2. Is there a difference between happiness and pleasure?
3. Would you agree that all of us can become happy?
4. Why does Aristotle consider people enjoying life’s pleasures as beasts?
5. What is virtue? 

Review Questions

1. What is happiness, according to Aristotle? How is it related to virtue? How is it related to pleasure?

Happiness, according to Aristotle happiness is an activity of the soul while virtue is a state of character concerned with choice. Virtue is a mean with regard to what is best and right an extreme. Happiness and virtue are related, upon my understanding of what I’ve read, in sense that virtue is something that allows us to decide on what is right and what is wrong and find the best thing in us that we cannot see through our eyes. Pleasure is related to happiness since ironically, a lot of people define happiness as pleasure, as something that gives us enjoyment like money and video games.

2. How does Aristotle explain moral virtue? Give some examples.

Aristotle explains moral virtue as virtue that comes about as a result of habit. It does not arise by nature which, in other words, means that it is a virtue that we learn. Moral virtue, as explained by Aristotle, is generally a state of character that is a mean between the vices of excess and deficiency.  An example that he has given is the virtue of courage, it is an excess of rashness and a deficiency of cowardice. A different example that I can think of myself is innocence, it is an excess of child-mindedness and a deficiency or lack of knowledge.

3. Is it possible for everyone in our society to be happy, as Aristotle explains it? If not, who cannot be happy?

Basing it on what has been discussed I would believe that it is indeed possible for everyone to be happy.  We just need to have moral virtue which we can achieve through contemplating, as Aristotle has said. Despite this, there is also a part of me that doubts that everyone could be happy. The people whom I consider cannot be happy are the people who consider happiness as pleasure. These are the people who are very attached to material possessions like money and food. Happiness is not something of material value, instead happiness is something although we cannot see it but we can still feel it such as love.

Discussion Questions

1. Aristotle characterizes a life of pleasure as suitable for beasts. But what, if anything, is wrong with a life of pleasure?

Opinion-wise pleasure, are of two kinds, one are those of material value and one of sentimental or emotional.  Pleasure gained by material things is temporary and this are perhaps the pleasure suited for beasts that Aristotle was talking about. This is what’s wrong with pleasure and I would agree that this kind of pleasure is suitable for beasts. On the other hand, emotional pleasure such as love is a good kind of pleasure. It is something that we feel though we cannot see it. The main point is that too much having too much pleasure is bad and this is what you can say a pleasure suitable for beasts. 

2. Aristotle claims that the philosopher will be happier than anyone else. Why is this? Do you agree or not?

Aristotle claimed this because of a philosopher’s ability to contemplate which most of us fail to do so. Even in places we have to or contemplate in such as retreat houses, our rooms and Churches, we fail to do so. We have become too preoccupied and “busy” enjoying life’s pleasures around us like our mobile phones, iPods and food. These things have become a hindrance for us to contemplate while a philosopher can contemplate anytime and in any place he wants to and as Aristotle said, contemplating leads to happiness. Contemplating, in fact has lead philosophers to different perspectives with regards to things such as life, love and of course happiness itself. Philosophers in my opinion will be happier than anybody else because they gain the best thing they could ever gain, happiness that is eternal and not temporary.

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