How to Achieve the Goal of Happiness

Many people may say that to live and have a happy life, you have to achieve great things, and do everything right in the world. According to Aristotle, you have to do much more than that. He has many reasonings and outlooks on how one should live their life to its full potential of happiness. The most important thing that we should achieve in our lives is the feeling of happiness. Aristotle then writes his book, Nicomachean Ethics, to try and figure out how to achieve the goal of happiness.

Aristotle has had many accomplishments in his life, he has made many contributions to biology, medicine, agriculture, ethics, theatre, and politics (Aristotle, 2018). In the article about Aristotle and the Pursuit of Happiness, it says “Along with his teacher Plato, he was one of the strongest advocates of a liberal arts education, which stresses the education of the whole person, including one’s moral character, rather than merely learning a set of skills (Aristotle, 2018).

” He has performed many great things throughout his long, merry life that will forever affect how people live their lives.

One of Aristotle’s main claims is that happiness is reliant on virtue (Plato, 2013). Plato states, “The individual needs to be naturally a ‘virtuous’ person, rather than just acting accordingly (Plato, 2013).” Aristotle claims that doing virtuous deeds is pleasurable and that everybody should also do them (Plato, 2013). In Cahn’s book, he states “A good human being was virtuous in the sense that he embodied all the excellences of human character (Cahn 146).

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” Some people think that being a good, virtuous person can get you far in life and bring you happiness, which I agree with. While others may not believe in any of this and think that they will never find happiness in their life.

Aristotle identifies with many different kinds of virtues throughout the book that can either move you closer to happiness or further away from it. One of Plato’s students analyzes that “one’s actions can only be judged as praiseworthy or blameworthy if they are voluntary (Plato, 2013).” If you do something wrong, then that was your decision that you can now, not take back. Your actions can only reflect on the type of person you are and they can predict the kind of future you are going to have. It is sometimes okay to let out a little anger, everyone has to every once in a while because it allows you to have more patience with yourself. It also lets you know how you are feeling. Some people may think that happiness can only come from money, pleasure, and honor when it is right in front of you coming from your friends and family (Aristotle, 2018).Every

One of the many virtues that embrace all the rest is the issue of Justice. There are two immediate types of justice, which are distributive and rectification (Plato, 2013). Plato then explains, “The philosopher then asserts that it is impossible to treat oneself unjustly or to suffer injustice willingly (Plato, 2013).” Sometimes bad things will happen and there is nothing you can do about it, but you can fight through it and allow it to make you an overall stronger person. Although moral virtues play a big part in finding happiness, it sometimes is not enough (Plato, 2013). Some of the different reasonings Aristotle describes are calculative reasoning and contemplative reasoning; these two reasonings together make up intellectual virtue (Plato, 2013). With knowing these reasonings, we can differentiate between the right and the wrong and decide if we’re doing the right thing or not (Pevery day late, 2013). Many people may think that what they are doing is right when it’s not, but that might just be the way they learned growing up.

Aristotle then starts to explain how important friendship is and the different forms of it that people can have and go through (Plato, 2013). Plato then states, “He began by separating the different types of friendship: Those based on utility, on pleasure and goodness of character.” (Plato, 2013) I think that everyone should experience at least one great friend that makes them feel alive and loved at the same time. Having a friendship like this can fulfill you with such happiness that you won’t even recognize the negative things that are going on in your life. Although a loving friendship can create happiness between two people, it can also create happiness within a community which will make all of the citizens friendly with each other (Plato, 2013).

Is Aristotle’s ethical system valid? Aristotle’s ethical system is very valid and useful to me and I believe that many people use it every day in their lives. I feel that people all around the world should persuade others to use it too. There are many attributes that you can gain from following this system. For example, you can gain good habits, do the right thing, and obtain character excellence.

Overall, Aristotle points out that to have a fun, happy life, you have to perform good, kind things not only for yourself but for the people that are around you (Plato, 2013). I believe Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is a valid ethical system that many people should think about pursuing. This is because everyone should deserve to be happy no matter what. Although some people in the world today don’t grow up in a secure home or with caring parents. They shouldn’t act out and follow in their parent’s footsteps. Instead, they should do their own thing, form their own opinions and what they think will bring them happiness.