Aristotle's Pursuit Of Happiness

Socrates: Hello, my name is Socrates. I was a classical Greek philosopher who is known as the founder of western philosophy. I was born around 470 BC in the Athens and died about the age of 71 in 399 BC. My main interests are in epistemology and ethics, I was Plato’s teacher and most of my discussions are shown through Plato's dialogues. Moving on, today’s topic is about happiness. What is happiness? What does it mean to be truly happy? How does one achieve happiness? And many more questions about the topic happiness that will be answered today by the philosophers Aristotle and John Stuart Mill. Lets start with Aristotle, please introduce yourself.

Aristotle: Hello, my name is Aristotle and I am here to speak about my perspective on what

I believe that happiness this the end goal for every human being. Everything that is worked for and achieved in one's life such as pursuing a good education, wealth, career success, good family and friends and good health altogether makes up happiness, the ultimate end goal. Something that lasts a few moments and gives one pleasure within that time is not happiness, happiness lasts a lifetime not a day or so. Pleasure is different in the sense that, it is not worked for, someone telling one joke will give that person hearing the joke pleasure, but happiness is a long-term goal that ensures that one has succeeded in life and reached his/her potential. I also believe that, this is the very thing that can stop someone from achieving happiness. When one believes that the pleasure they feel on a hot sunny day or when they are having a good time to be happiness, it takes them away from their goals, blinding them from achieving true happiness.Many view happiness with a subjective state of mind but the truth is that happiness is the same for all, it is everyone's end goal. No one can truly achieve happiness until their lives are over and they have succeeded and are satisfied with reaching their goals. Instant gratification comes with long-term pain, to explain this further, pleasure is a short term feeling that differs from happiness and will bring pain along with it. Since happiness cannot be achieved until one has passed over, it is a goal not a temporary

Happiness is based off of morality and it is a desire that everyone uses as the main goal in life. All the other desires such as wealth, good health, good friends and family, etc. that people have lead up to the one desire which is happiness.

Socrates: Interesting, you also believe that happiness is the foundation of justice correct?

John: Yes I do believe that happiness is the foundation of justice.

Socrates: Why is that ? What makes you believe that happiness is the reason to why justice exists ?

John: Well to answer your question, I stated before that happiness is based off of morality, one's actions to make the right decisions which becomes the foundation of justice. The sentiment of justice is actually based on utility, which is happiness. When one makes decisions based off of their morals and try to do the right thing, justice is created. When making choices that would lead one to happiness, it also leads that person to make peaceful acts. Therefore, happiness is the foundation of justice.

Socrates: Well thank you for sharing your views on the topic of happiness. While I think you and Aristotle did a great job expressing your opinions and it makes a great lessons, I do however believe that one cannot truly know the mean of