Aristotle Views on Happiness in Life
Happily Ever After
“Living happily ever after” is not just a phrase that is used in movies but it actually means living a “happily ever after” life in real life too. According to the argument put forwarded by Aristotle, goals in life are valued on the basis of their importance simply to the degree that they connect to happiness in the end. In the research related to Subjective Well-Being i.e. SWB, the good life is equal to extent of happiness. It has been accepted time and again that it is a common desire among the human beings to seek and find happiness as a major life goal (Aristotle 24).
Purpose of Life
When we talk about meaningful life, it usually includes a determined wish to achieve something or a sense of solid intention. A good and well-lived life is one that is characterized by meaningful prospects and actions. It is a fact that a lot of people who seek happiness try to find it by having a sense of meaning. Most of the human beings struggle really hard to find a genuine purpose in life as a common goal. It is extremely necessary to mention here that an individual may have bad and painful experiences but may still hold on to a strong determination and certainty about a unified purpose. As far as moral goodness in Aristotle’s view is concerned, he holds the opinion that one’s life must be devoted to acquire a meaningful purpose especially one by which others get benefitted on an unconditional basis (Cameron).
Aristotle’s writings
Aristotle’s writings are considered as those which have great influence on the mindset of the Western society and civilization. In his work Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle has significantly explored the ideas related to moral values, God, character and happiness. He has debated a number of issues related to the mentioned subject areas. Moral virtue has been defined by him as an outlook to conduct oneself in the desirable way and as a representation of extremes of insufficiency and surplus both of which are considered as vices (Aristotle 159).
Happiness Attained by Soul Satisfaction
According to his opinions as found in a number of literatures related to psychology of happiness, a happy life is attainable only if the soul (along with its every part) carries out its functions in the most appropriate manner. He has been reported to reiterate every now and then that a well-lived life is only attainable if the desirable functions are performed by the individual with the highest degree of morality and excellence. It is rather difficult to ignore the prevailing fact that the developed societies are undergoing a number of problems even though there has been tremendous advancement in every aspect of life. In a majority of cases, people do not find it easy to point out what is the lacking in their prosperous lives. They feel alienated, experience hollow relationships and social structures. This midlife crisis is the result of a lack of morality and sense of looseness derived from it. Thus, Aristotle’s view that eudemonia i.e. happiness must be the ultimate goal of an individual’s life (Cameron).
Attain Spiritual Good
Aristotle believes that the whole human body has a significant function just like every single part has a particular function to perform. And these functions are the main reason why human beings can be easily distinguished from other creatures. He maintains the idea throughout his works that human beings must strive for knowing what is best for them. He believes that such an understanding is necessary to acquire the real meaning of life and happiness. He does not encourage finding happiness in materialistic objects. Rather, he suggests human beings to strive to achieve the highest form of eudaimonia i.e. happiness that makes a person spiritually strong. Aristotle has provided a unique explanation of happiness in his function argument. His idea of living happily is entirely different when compared with a number of scholars of his age. However, he has a logical side to his argument when he insists human beings to function in order to attain spiritual good (King & Napa 157).
Money Can’t Buy Happiness
He insists that happiness has nothing to do with money. It is just a myth that money brings happiness in the lives of people. Very rich and prosperous people have pains that cannot be understood by those who have no means to attain the status enjoyed by the former. Thus, it depends on the use of the money whether it is a role in one’s happiness or unhappiness. Aristotle finds money as a dehumanizing element in attaining happiness that lasts long. Thus, it can be said that it is a favor by God if a person has a lot of money. It has nothing to do with morality or being good as a person. A good and a well-lived life have nothing to do with monetary benefits achieved and enjoyed by any human being. A well-lived life is one wherein a person enjoys the moral goodness, a sense of conscience and “not only the amount of meaningful activity engaged in but also the amount of happiness the person enjoys” (King & Napa 164). When money is compared with meaningful purpose, morality and happiness, it can be observed that the former has little value in life.
Conclusion
In a general sense, Aristotle’s function argument reveals that the good of human beings lies in the supremacy of raison d’être.
References
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. USA: Filiquarian Publications, 2007. Print.
Cameron, D. “Aristotle Got It Right; Well-Being, Not Just Wealth, Should Mark the Progress of Our Societies.” Newsweek International 7 May 2007: n. pag. Questia. Web. 22 Sept. 2013. <http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-162808221/aristotle-got-it-right-well-being-not-just-wealth>.
King, L. A, & Napa C. K. “What Makes a Life Good?.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 75.1 (1998): 156-165.MYSMU. Web. 22 Sept. 2013. <http://www.mysmu.edu/faculty/cscollon/King_Napa_1998.pdf>.