Essay Sample on Aristotle's Analysis of Happiness: Its Meaning and Impact

Introduction

Aristotle is one of the renowned philosophers who have earned the recognition of many modern-day thinkers. Aristotle focused on numerous fields such as science and psychology. Owing to his work, he has gained the title, "Father of Western Philosophy". One of the major concepts paid attention by Aristotle is happiness. Happiness is a crucial human concept and this is because it is identified as the basis of human survival. However, not all men agree as to what happiness is (NE1.7 1098a15-17 5). Going through Aristotle's approach to human happiness and the facts surrounding it is imperative in the comprehension of how people can improve their lives.

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The philosopher Aristotle was of the view that happiness is the goal of human existence and consequently focused more on how human beings can incorporate this to make their lives better. Mencius is another philosopher that lived during the time of Aristotle and was quite influential on the views relating to happiness (NE1.7 1098a15-17 8). According to Aristotle, a broad range of conditions have to be fulfilled to have genuine happiness in life. The basic conditions to fulfill include physical satisfaction where a person is not in pain (NE1.7 1098a15-17 39). The eyes are also essential for a person gets to see the wonders of life such as nature and beautiful buildings and skylines.

Another condition presented by Aristotle is mental well-being. If a person is not mentally satisfied, he or she is normally in a foul mood and thoughts continue streaming through the mind of the individual. Increased thinking is rather negative and this is because it offers a negative illusion and it is rather impossible for a person to enjoy life naturally (NE1.7 1098a15-17 39). It is essential to ensure that a person is mentally satisfied and consequently the person can view life in a different light and more specifically a positive light. It is essential to note that this theory was based on initial works of Plato who was a great inspiration to the work of Aristotle. Aristotle used the work of Plato as a basis of his principles. Similarly, modern-day man borrows ideas and favor (NE1.7 1098a15-17 84 118). Through this school of thought, Aristotle introduced the concept of a Science of happiness and this was a new field of knowledge at the time. In the contemporary environment, this has become popular and is introduced to students of philosophy across the world.

The balance that is achieved after comparing two excesses is termed the mean and according to Aristotle, virtue is achieved by ensuring that the mean is always maintained. Virtue is integral to the achievement of human happiness (NE1.7 1098a15-17 26). Virtues and values are essentially the same and regardless of the situation that a person is in he or she ought to ensure that he maintains virtues and values. Virtue is twofold, moral and intellectual (NE1.7 1098a15-17 26). This is not only for personal happiness but for the satisfaction of people around the individual. Many are the times that people are forced to engage in activities that do not please them but are ethically viable. With the achievement of this, it is possible for the person to please other people around him and consequently the aspect of happiness is achieved from this. Aristotle is of the idea that as long as other people gain happiness from the actions of another, the basic principle maintained in the science of knowledge is achieved. Human good or happiness is not simply the result of rational decision, but comprises of it, since a reasonable action and behavior is the one for whom the premise manifests the person's understanding as to what is good enough to justify doing for what's sake.

Aristotle advances his argument for happiness by throwing cold water to the three main sources some people pursue happiness; money, honor and pleasure, and places the real source of happiness in the function argument (NE1.7 1098a15-17 243). He opposes the money argument as a source of happiness by explaining that, money is how we seek other ends of happiness and it can't be a source of happiness in itself. When it comes to honor, Aristotle argues that honor places the source of happiness on the opinions of others, and can't, therefore, offer real happiness as all one pursues is to please others. Regarding pleasure, he argues that pleasure is limited as a source of happiness, as once we receive it, it is completely lost and one has to start the whole process again in search for it.

Instead of pursuing wealth, pleasure and honor as the end goals for happiness, Aristotle proposes of function-based happiness. He argues that, by being rational and understanding other human beings and by functioning the way they should, then happiness can be found. Aristotle goes further to attach happiness to the soul by defining happiness as "an activity of the soul in accord with virtue (NE1.7 1098a15-17 248)." Happiness should, therefore, be searched by one engaging in virtue activities that go beyond pleasure and wealth. As well stated in the Nichomachean Ethics, in chapter 6-9, happiness cannot be trained as a practice or faculty. It is not in the amusement that happiness is found, and fun can't be the end goal of our lives.

According to Aristotle, human beings are constantly in the search of pleasure and wealth and even though each of them has some value present; none of these people has the ultimate good which is the chief aspect that people should aim (NE1.7 1098a15-17 8). The philosopher further states that almost everybody is of the idea that ultimate happiness is the conclusion that meets all the requirements of human nature and despite this, it is rather impossible to see everybody happy. At any given moment, when an individual is happy, there is another person in the same or even different environment that is unpleased or sad (NE1.7 1098a15-17 9).

To get to an ultimate end, an action must be final and self-sufficient and this is where the actions are always desirable individually and not rely on another subsequent action. Given the fact that human beings are in constant search of pleasure, and then it is noteworthy that ultimate happiness is not easily achievable or can never be achieved. When a person desires something and achieves it, there is a subtle lax in the search of alternative pleasure but after some time one can identify something else that can satisfy him more and thus seek to attain it.

Different people view happiness in different lights depending on various aspects including a money-making life (NE1.7 1098a15-17 8). What one might deem pleasing to self might not be viewed in the same manner by another person. Aristotle states that people ought to identify that one can't get ultimate pleasure and thus they ought to be content with the level of happiness that they attain. Through this, human nature is gratified and actions are rather viewed differently and in an approved manner. Virtues are very important in the achievement of happiness and it is critical to note that virtue is defined in accord with distinction (NE1.7 1098a15-17 25).

A person might get to a point where he or she sees that a certain action might not be pleasurable for him and opt to forego this action but this particular individual needs to sacrifice to have other people pleasure. As identified, Nichomachean Ethics involve politics and an example provided by the Greek Philosopher Aristotle is where a political leader might embezzle funds for self-gratification and fail to assist the subjects that elected him and that he serves. The leader ought to be open and not selfish to cater to the needs of other people (NE1.7 1098a15-17 84). Here the leader achieves happiness but the concept of value and ethics are disregarded by the particular person. The subjects are not contented by the actions of the leader and lack happiness which is quite vital in the development of a society. The same leader might also sacrifice the urge to use funds meant for community development and have the funds allocated for various project developments. The virtues of a person are identified and the subjects are pleased with the developments taking place in society (NE1.7 1098a15-17 84 86). There is then the achievement of happiness for the two parties involved who are the leaders and the subjects that they are meant to serve.

Epicureanism is the other aspect to review concerning Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics and the pursuit of happiness. By definition, this is a branch of ethics that focuses on the conception of life and traced to the basics of philosophy. In basic form, this branch of philosophy focuses on the means through which people seek happiness and this is through working to earn a living and consequently managing to live or rather affording the lifestyle that they desire. It is essential to note that since it is a part of Nichomachean Ethics, it is always important to uphold good virtues and consequently manage to please other people without any form of selfishness (NE1.7 1098a15-17 84). It is essential to note that the basic principle of Epicureanism is the fact that happiness is the ultimate good and thus people ought to seek it while maintaining general ethics and quality behavior.

To gain happiness, a person ought to concentrate on different activities with the focal point being consequential understanding of the outcome. In the contemporary environment, people take happiness subjectively where they assume that this is the state of mind where a person can enjoy a moment for a given amount of time where after, it disappears. For Aristotle, happiness is not merely simple pleasures of life that are brief but is the eventuality of one's life (NE1.7 1098a15-17 244). Comprehension of this is important because, with absolute happiness, the person can carry out activities without any form of comfort. Also, to have a fulfilling life, Aristotle states that it is vital for a person to engage in a series of activities but that a person should not be only satisfied with basic happiness but seek other different activities that essentially lead to happiness in the end. It is for this reason that the philosopher states that a single person cannot say he has lived a happy life when still in existence but this is only proclaimed by the family and friends of the individual after his or her death.

In a bid to explain the concept of humans and their quest for happiness, Aristotle concludes the general nature after his biological investigations. When a person focuses on nature, it is possible to identify that there are two major types of things in existence in the contemporary world and each of these variables serves a particular purpose that is independent of the other. One of the things identified is minerals including rocks, stones, and metal (NE1.7 1098a15-17 122). These are inanimate objects and they only exist for no purpose and their ultimate goal is to just come to a rest. When comparing this to the aspect of human happiness, one can identify that there are times a person is in a foul mood and no amount of change can help the person recover from depression and one has to let human nature evolve around the person until a time the individual feels contented.

The other aspect that Aristotle identifies is vegetation. At least when one focuses on this, there is the identification that these are alive and has a soul (NE1.7 1098a15-17 23). The vegetation even gets contented and appreciation upon achieving its goal which is natural growth and ripening in the case of fruits. Although they are not the ones that appreciate themselves, other beings such as humans are the ones that show appreciation by harvesting. The same goes for happiness where despite the activities that a person engages in, he or she is not the one that always reaps the benefits and the happiness can be observed from the people aroun...