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Happiness, the Purpose of Human Existence
In day to day lives, people are guided by certain moral issues. These issues dictate how people behave and act in their society. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, brought up several moral values and issues that explained the lives and existence of people. He guided people and advised them on several issues such as making decisions, how to practice justice, the importance of being happy, the importance of friendship and so many other values. According to writings based on his arguments he argues that these values determine the goodness and badness of an individual. In one of his works, he argued that happiness is the ultimate purpose for existence. This essay will, therefore, use other works by him to support this statement.
Aristotle concentrated on this topic more than any other. The happiness of individuals depends on them. Happiness in human beings is directly connected to the virtues. Whenever the situation that a person is in becomes worse, the moral virtue shines through the situation. The person’s happiness is secured (Pedersen, p79).For one to be happy, high-mindedness is required. A high-minded person looks at the moral virtues and connects them to his needs in the society. The individuals; ambition to achieve certain goals in life is what dictates his happiness. Individuals are happy whenever they are attained their goals. It means that their desire and persistence to attain their goals is because they need to be happy (Pedersen, p80).The virtue of ambition that is connected to high-mindedness is a good thing. Ambition is the key drive of individuals achieving their goals. As said earlier attainment of one’s goals fulfills the desire of the individual and his purpose in life to be happy. Seeking happiness in life requires people to make choices that at times, they may be very hard.
According to Pedersen (83), Aristotle’s virtue of good temper also plays a key role in the explanation of the ultimate goal in life. Good tempered individuals are not subject to anger. Anger deprives a person the ultimate purpose of existence, that is, happiness. Good tempered individuals are rather forgiving than revengeful. Being good tempered goes hand in hand with happiness, and that’s why the individuals with the virtue find it easy to forgive. Revenge is an element of anger and anger is a type of pain. In case an individual is bad tempered, there is always the aspect of pain rather than happiness and life to the individual becomes a living hell (Pedersen, p83). It means that this individual does not live up to his purpose of existence. Anger is usually pain combined with the desire to revenge. Everywhere people do seek pleasure, wealth, and good reputation. All these have value in life but in the end, the ultimate purpose of having the desire for money and pleasure is happiness. According to Pedersen’s writings on Aristotle (84), all other goods are means to happiness and happiness is always an end in itself.
Aristotle’s philosophy of the human good has considerably supported that happiness is the ultimate purpose for human existence. Perfect happiness is completely based on human contemplation (Kraut, p11).It means that the contemplation helps in one’s decision- making. The decision that one makes is attached to his or her intended happiness. According to Aristotle, one should ensure that the time spent in contemplating is maximal. Human beings should be devoted to their good (Kraut, p12).For a person to reach the ultimate end of happiness, one has to lead a philosophical life rather than a political life. A philosophical life helps an individual by being open minded and being open minded. A philosopher tends to ask himself questions and takes maximum time to contemplate before making a decision. Living a philosophical life makes it easier for one always to be at the optimal end of happiness. Aiming at the ultimate end helps individuals to determine how much is too much and how little is too little in their pursuit of wealth and honor (Kraut, p12).
Aristotle takes it for granted that all human beings need friends in order to survive, which is true. The friends help one to carry on with the activities that help in the pursuit of happiness. When an individual is isolated, he becomes a part of a whole. It means that an individual cannot be self-sufficient in the pursuit of happiness without friends (Stern-Gillet, p128).Friendship brings in the virtue of love. People living with love tend to be always happy. The reason is that they help each other in the attainment of their goals. As discussed earlier, attainment of goals is a means to being happy which is what everybody targets in the end. Friendship is necessary for the purpose of making good psychological gaps between each other. Friendship also ensures fulfillment of the social instincts that are implanted in all human beings naturally (Stern-Gillet, p130).It brings out the happiness that one has been longing to attain. True and complete friends are necessary for the good life of a man. A happy and excellent person will always need people for him to benefit. In the end, the reason for having friends in life will be to achieve one’s happiness. A man has a certain function that is to live a certain type of life. Aristotle argues that the most important factor to achieving happiness in life is moral upright.
The society also values the success of its people. The authorities and the political systems are aware that the success of its people is what determines their ultimate goal and purpose of existence. The state has protected the happiness of its citizens by implementing the social justice system. Justice requires that one does not harm the other and that people should treat each other according to what the norms, rules, customs and laws requires them(Alexander, p134).The purpose of this is to protect the interests of the other. It has already been made crystal clear that the interests and goals of a person lead to his or her happiness at the end. Happiness comes after the goal has been achieved. Promotion of justice ensures that one leads a happy and worthwhile life. The Practice of justice makes individuals just. Individuals act within the law and undertake their activities in a peaceful way. The interest of a person hence are not interfered with, and people have the peace they require in order to contemplate deeply on what they need and what they think would make them happy(Alexander, p136).
In conclusion, Aristotle argues that the purpose of each and every goal and activity is in the pursuit of happiness. One seeks wealth, honor and class in the society in order to lead a happy life at the long-run. According to the essay, everyone would agree to Aristotle’s argument that happiness is the end that meets all the human beings’ requirements. It is evident that people work hard with the desire to acquire wealth, pleasure, and honor just because they want to be happy in life. Happiness is conceived as a state of mind, and it’s not something that can be gained or lost in a small period. Though, it is hard to determine whether a person has led a happy life until it’s over (Nichomachean Ethics, p18).
Works Cited
Stern-Gillet, S: Aristotle’s Philosophy of Friendship. Sunny Press, 1995. Print.
Kraut, R: Aristotle on the Human Good. Princeton University Press, 1991. Print.
Pedersen, T: Aristotle’s Theory of Moral Insight. Oxford University Press, 1983.Print.
Alexander, J.M: Capabilities and Social Justice. Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2008.print.
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