Aristotle s Value Of Happiness - 1448 Words

Human beings spend a lifetime finding the meaning of life and what makes us happy. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean’s Ethics, Aristotle gives his own wisdom to his son, Nicomachean on how to achieve the end goal of life which is happiness. He explores this virtue of happiness through many other characteristics and virtues. One of the characteristics, Aristotle explores for one to be happy is moderation. Overindulgence in food, sex, and drinks can lead to dangers in one’s life. To obtain happiness and live a complete life, one must be moderate. Aristotle asserts that â€Å"moderation is a mean with respect to pleasures† (Aristotle 62). Aristotle takes into account both the body and soul when discussing pleasures. What gives a person pleasures? In many cases, food, drinks, sex, listening to one’s favorite music, and even hanging out with friends can give someone pleasure. Overindulgence of pleasures of the body (food, drink, and sex) is limited compared to the soul (honor and learning) which is unlimited. Aristotle makes the argument that when a person takes enjoyment in the smelling of â€Å"apples, roses, or incense† (Aristotle 64) they are not licentious since that smell could remind that person of a past encounter that could signal desire (Aristotle 64). Aristotle then compares human to animals with the direct reference to a lion; where a lion does not receive desire because it smells the meat of a cow, but because the lion knows that it will take pleasure in eating the cow’s meatShow MoreRelatedEssay about Morals and Ethics1134 Words   |  5 Pages Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Nietzsche all had their own ideas for which one could reach happiness in his/her life. All have similarities in there reasoning except Nietzshe, who contradicts the others entirely. Plato states that to understand virtue is happiness. In turn virtue suffices for happiness and is necessary. Also he intuits that human reasoning prevails over spirited element or a person?s appetite. Aristotle?s arguments relate with Plato, but he builds more to it and finds his ownRead MoreHappiness and Moral Value956 Words   |  4 PagesHappiness and Moral Virtue In Aristotles Nicomachaen Ethics, the principle concern is the nature of human well-being. According to Aristotle, everything we do in life, we do for the sake of some good, or at least something perceived to be good (1094a1-3). When inquiring as to whether there is some good desired for its own sake, Aristotle envisioned a problem that either there is an infinite series of goods desired for the sake of something higher, in which case ones desires can never be satisfiedRead 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 compre hensive system of subjects. Aristotle has laid out virtues, which is the importantRead MoreAristotle And Aristotle On Education1262 Words   |  6 Pages2.2.2 Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) Another great influence on Education was the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle who came later after Confucius, who was born in Stagira, Chalcidice. Aristotle was first a student in Plato’s philosophy school for around twenty years. Later on he was a philosophy teacher in Atarneus which is located in Asia Minor. Aristotle is known for his school named â€Å"Lyceum† which is located in Athens, and he is also known for teaching Alexander the Great who can later. AccordingRead MoreAristotle s Contributions Of Western Philosophy1124 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the greatest classical Greek philosophers still known is Aristotle. His contributions to Western philosophy are in the areas of nature, nature, logic, metaphysics, the soul, morality, and politics. He was one of Plato’s students and studied under him for twenty years in the academy in Athens. He started to lecture about his on top of rhetoric. Aristotle became well known for his philosophies he began to tutor Phillip of Macedon son Alexander. After the death of Phillip’s, the school of platonicRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Happiness By Aristotle1156 Words   |  5 Pages The pursuit of happiness is the reason for our existence (Aristotle, 2004) The Greek word that usually gets translated as happiness is eudaimonia, and like most translations from ancient languages, there is a loss of deeper meaning in translation. According to Aristotle happiness (eudaimonia) is the central purpose of human life and a goal in itself (Aristotle, 2004) (Creed, Wardman 1963). Because of this ideology, Aristotle devoted much of his time discussing and explaining this philosophy (HughesRead 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 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 More Aristotles Concept of Happiness Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesIn the work, Nicomachean Ethics, the philosopher Aristotle creates a guideline for those who are serious about pursuing happiness. Aristotles recommendations for finding happiness are not accept ed today without some struggle and careful examination. In Aristotles time, slaves, women and children were not truly considered human; so in many cases the philosopher is directing his words towards free males only. It is necessary to understand that by overlooking this discrimination and applying it toRead 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 individual