Happiness in Nicomachean Ethics and Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

623 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What happiness really means

Essay written by Elizabeth Sippel

From pursuing pleasure to avoiding pain, life seems to ultimately be

about achieving happiness. However, how to define and obtain

happiness has and continues to be a widely debated issue. In

Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle gives his view on happiness. According to

Aristotle, different types of people pursue different ends. “The many,” or

ordinary people, pursue pleasure, whereas politicians seek glory. However,

people of superior refinement seek happiness. Happiness is the highest

goal because it is an end desired entirely for its own sake, and it is selfsufficient.

In order to define happiness, the function of man must be considered.

Aristotle says that what makes man unique is his ability to reason. Thus

reason must be connected to happiness in some way. Aristotle further

argues that virtue is also tied to happiness. Virtue can be categorized as

either intellectual or moral. Intellectual virtue, as the name suggests,

corresponds to the reasoning self. Moral virtue, on the other hand,

corresponds to the desiring self. Thus moral vi...

Show More
Related

  • Happiness and Impossible Standards in Aristotle's The Nicomachean Ethics

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humans, throughout recorded history, have searched for a proper way of living which would lead them to ultimate happiness; the Nicomachean Ethics, a compilation of lecture notes on the subject written by Greek philosopher Aristotle, is one of the most celebrated philosophical works dedicated to this study of the way. As he describes it, happiness can only be achieved by acting in conformity with virtues, virtues being established by a particular culture’s ideal person operating at their top capacity. In our current society the duplicity of standards in relation to virtue makes it difficult for anyone to attain. To discover true happiness, man must first discover himself.

    Read More

  • Doodles Determination (Scarlet Ibis)

    360 Words  | 1 Pages

    is a feasible and attainable goal, he begins to do it for his own benefit, as well as his

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Living Like Weasels

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to dictionary.com a goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.” A goal is a checkpoint that you strive to accomplish throughout life. Reading Dillards quote makes me think of never giving up on your goals and aspirations because if you have realistic goals and work hard towards them they can be achieved. In “Living Like Weasels” Annie Dillard says humans need to live more like weasels, “noticing everything, remembering nothing” (879). This portrays the weasel as living

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: Understanding The Good According To Aristotle

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

     In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he discusses the principles of virtue, choices and a desire for an end. In the 5th chapter of book 3, Aristotle gives a possible argument of someone who objects to his beliefs “But someone might argue as follows: ‘All Men seek what appears good to them, but they have no control over how things appear to them; the end appears different to different men” (1114b). Based on the objector’s generalization, he or she believes that all men strive to find the ultimate good, but they don't have the freedom or the wisdom to see things for what they truly are.

    Read More

  • Virtue and Happiness in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    In consideration to Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle’s view of the great-souled man is that of an individual that represents happiness and obtains the five virtues: wisdom, justice, bravery, self-control, and the overall goodness within an individual (happiness). The magnanimous person is very complex and displays the proper virtues at the proper time, and in the proper way. In addition, the great-souled man accommodates to his surroundings where he is honorable but not boastful in his actions. Aristotle believes that it is only possible to attain happiness within a political organization because happiness represents living well without being concerned with others, they solely live for the truth and not approval.

    Read More

  • Dante's Happiness: Inferno And The Paradiso

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    I am often bombarded with a seven word question in life as I am sure many other people are. “What is your ultimate goal in life?” Many answers may differ, but my answer seems to always be the same; to seek happiness. If one can’t seek happiness what is the point of living? If you are miserable all the time and not living life with a positive mindset is there any so called “value” to your life? I’m not saying that you have to be happy all of the time because that is hard to achieve. Sometimes there are so called “punishments” in order to seek happiness, but once one achieves happiness it is a feeling that is indescribable.

    Read More

  • Nicomachean Ethics: Friendship, Virtue and Happiness

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the writings of Aristotle, seen in Nicomachean Ethics, it is evident that Aristotle believes that friendship is necessary for a virtuous and therefore happy life. I believe that this is accurate due to the similar conditions necessary for a complete friendship and a happy life. It is also evident that friendship is useful in achieving a happy life because friendship can make performing virtuous actions easier. His interpretation can be misunderstood and mistakes in practice can be made, so we will need to discuss these follies as well, in order to understand all the effects of friendship on achieving a happy life.

    Read More

  • Aquinas Views On The Pursuit Of Happiness

    236 Words  | 1 Pages

    To begin, happiness is viewed as the ultimate goal in the life of an individual and highest good, Aquinas believes that no human can achieve higher wisdom and happiness during their time on earth due to the fact that man’s ultimate happiness would only be achieved by passing on and being in the presence of the lord, or as he terms it: “Along with natural happiness, there is a supernatural happiness of comping to “see God as he is”. (P.77) by living a just and moral life, we will eventually know true happiness in the next life. In fact, he goes on to argue that our happiness during life is bound by what God reveals to living souls, and thus, drastically limited. While our human faculties provide some happiness, only in our heavenly vessels will

    Read More

  • Elite Engineering Unable To Change Essay

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    Goal congruence is needed as it ensures that a person’s goals are in line w...

    Read More

  • Aristotle and the Book of Nicomanchean Ethics

    2039 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Book I of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states that the ultimate human goal or end is happiness. Aristotle then describes steps required for humans to obtain the ultimate happiness. He also states that activity is an important requirement of happiness. A virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The role of virtue to Aristotle is an important one, with out it, it seems humans cannot obtain happiness. Virtue is the connection one has to happiness and how they should obtain it. My goal in this paper is to connect Aristotle’s book of Nicomachean Ethics to my own reasoning of self-ethics. I strongly agree with Aristotle’s goal of happiness and conclude to his idea of virtues, which are virtuous states of character that affect our decision making in life.

    Read More

  • Nicomachean Ethics

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through books one to three in Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle distinguishes between pain and happiness, clarifying the endless war that men face in the path of these two extremes. Man’s quest for pleasure is considered by the self-conscious and rational Aristotle; a viewpoint traditionally refuted in contemporary, secular environments.

    Read More

  • Virtue Friendship In C. S. Lewis's The Nicomachean Ethics

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Aristotle presents his view of the mutual desire for good in others, or Friendship in his work, The Nicomachean Ethics. He asserts that friendship comes in three types, Virtue Friendship, Use Friendship, and Pleasure Friendship. He distinguishes Virtue Friendship as the perfect friendship, leaving Use Friendship and Pleasure friendship as deficient friendships. C.S. Lewis presents his view of friendship, which is motivated by appreciation love, in his book The Four Loves in a manner seeming to correspond to Aristotle’s concept of Virtue Friendship. Lewis also presents his perception of Companionship, which seems to correspond to Aristotle’s notion of Use and Pleasure Friendships. Lewis presents a more modern and seemingly accurate rehabilitation

    Read More

  • Spiritual and Moral Journeys in The Quest of the Holy Grail

    2330 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Spiritual and Moral Journeys in The Quest of the Holy Grail. The Quest of the Holy Grail is an exciting tale that follows the adventures of King Arthur's knights as they scour the countryside for the legendary Holy Grail. Throughout their journeys, the knights engage in many exciting jousts and sword fights with a variety of enemies. The author of The Quest of the Holy Grail intends for the story to be more than just entertainment: the knights' search for the Holy Grail is analogous to the pursuit of morality and spiritual chivalry, showing success through asceticism, confession, chastity, and faith.

    Read More

  • Aristotle And The Good Life Essay

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethics is the good in an individual and should not be confused or interchanged with morality. As morality are the ways that an individual can obtain good by following the laws of one’s society and the commandments of one’s religion. Although there are many great philosophers whom have impacted the world, multiples of them have extremist views about society, and therefore Aristotle is the philosopher whom I consider has a similar perspective of ethics as myself. He discusses how the “good life” comes from happiness and continues to explain to attain the “good life” it must be done ‌‌as a community. Even though Aristotle is one of the eldest philosophers, his ideas of ethics are still relevant in today’s society.

    Read More

  • Aristotle On Happiness And Virtue Essay

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    Aristotle once stated that, “But if happiness be the exercise of virtue, it is reasonable to suppose that it will be the exercise of the highest virtue; and that will be the virtue or excellence of the best part of us.” (481) It is through Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics that we are able to gain insight into ancient Greece’s moral and ethical thoughts. Aristotle argues his theory on what happiness and virtue are and how man should achieve them.

    Read More

More about Happiness in Nicomachean Ethics and Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

Open Document