I find that this argument is important in answering the question of how to live a happy life and even though this argument was written a long time ago I believe it’s still valid in today’s day and age. In conclusion, Aristotle’s argument in Nicomachean Ethics talks about the definition of happiness and how one can live a happy life. The definition Hartnett 6 given in the book is broken up into six crucial parts: excellent, activity, of the soul, involving reason, in accord with virtue, and over a complete life.…
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, the complexities of individuals and their character traits are developed within a sphere of human nature and moral virtue. To Aristotle, character virtues define an individual’s well being, characterize their dispositions to action, and are defined by reason’s judgement of phasic, ethical dilemmas. Aristotle’s theory argues for moral accountability not only in manifested action, but in an individual’s very psyche. As such, moral character virtue influences an individual’s entirety, influencing their emotions and actions and setting their path toward human betterment, or human telos. The path to virtue is fixed on that human betterment, the path of vice turned away.…
Introduction: This reflection will be focusing on the last quarter of the movie, Eye in the Sky. I will begin the reflection with a summary of the movie followed by the actions of Colonel Powell. I will spend the majority of this paper reflecting on Colonel Powell’s action of coercing Sergeant Saddiq into lowering the probability of injury. I will discuss the morality of her actions using normative ethics of consequentialism and deontological ethics of Nicomachean ethics to evaluate her decision.…
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses what he believes is the ultimate telos, or end goal, for humans. For every human, Aristotle believed that the fullest function of their abilities was to be happy. To Aristotle though, happiness is not subjective to individual people, as such, a human only reaches their telos when they are doing happy things with excellence and virtue. Does our modern culture actually fulfill their telos though, or we just concerned with the temporary “happiness” of drugs, sex, and money? In our modern world, Aristotle’s teleology has been vastly ignored for most modern people, and, subsequently, human beings have become more concerned with vices instead of virtue.…
While analyzing the Tao-te-Ching, many major themes are apparent. From the inevitability of change to the importance of non-action, the Tao-te-Ching is truly full of life lessons that deserve extensive analysis; however, one of the most prevalent and recurring themes is balance and its importance. Throughout Cultural Perspectives, many authors have addressed this same theme. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Plato, and Saint Augustine have all discussed this important topic; however, Aristotle best complements and contrasts Lao Tzu’s Tao-te-Ching in his work Nichmachean Ethics. When comparing and contrasting these two texts, one can see that these two authors had very similar ideas on the concept of balance. When comparing the two texts’ thoughts…
Aristotle proposes in his well renowned work, Nicomachean Ethics, a way of life that is structured on the foundation of what is happiness for human beings. Nicomachean Ethics provides the means in which are best determined to achieve the ultimate goal of an individual’s life which according to Aristotle is happiness. The definition of happiness is determined differently based on an individual’s perspective of the concept which the philosopher states in the beginning of Chapter Four in Book One of Nicomachean Ethics. Although differing in opinions and perspective of what happiness can best be defined as, there is a formal agreement of understanding amongst the people which Aristotle labels “the many and the refined” (Aristotle, Bartlett, & Collins,…
Defining happiness is an incredibly difficult idea to portray. Different things make different people happy and there are so many ways that a person could express what happiness means. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as an agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind and the possession of those circumstances or that state of being, which is attended with enjoyment. Researchers claim that up to half of a person’s happiness comes from their genes. However, happiness is not determined by your biological makeup, but rather your mindset and the external influences around you.…
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle defines truthfulness as a person who represents themselves accurately. He defines truthfulness as a mean between two opposite extremes. The first extreme is what Aristotle calls a “boaster”. A boaster is somebody who presents themselves as better than they really are, even when they know they aren’t. He claims to have skills he lacks and lies about how developed said skills are.…
What is happiness? You can ask this question to a thousand people, and you’ll get a thousand answer . These answers are usually versions of one another, tweaked ever so slightly to custom fit to our own personal lives and experiences. That’s the thing, there is no one definition of happiness, no key, no shortcut, no one ultimate explanation, everyone has their own adaptation. “Happiness is not having any expectations.”…
This personal restraint from idle pleasures allows one to create a sense of moral habituation which over time leads to eternal happiness. Internal happiness is the end goal for a person and Aristotle deems this as a true virtue. He explains that “human virtue, though, we mean not that of the body, but that of the soul; and…
Within book 8 nof Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he proposes friendship is the best external good an individual can possess. However, Aristotle in chapter 3 of book 8, he asserts the finest friendships are forged through the similarities of enduring virtues. However, this doesn't seem entirely correct, because people gradually change over time and remain close friends. Problematically, Aristotle asserts if the virtuous behaviour of the peer were to change, then the friendship ought to be dissolved if the friend could not be returned to a state of similarity. In effect, this essay will aim to argue that the enduring friendships is achieved through gaining confidence in our friends, rather the virtuous similarity between individuals.…
Moreover, happiness means a little girl have a new Barbie doll in the Christmas, happiness means when you find your true love, happiness means the person who you love smile with you,…
Let’s take a look into happiness. Happiness is living your life to the fullest without any regrets or mistakes to look back upon. This is saying that do anything you feel that makes you happy with never regretting the mistakes and decisions you chose to do. Happiness is full of a lot of surprises, laughter and enjoyment that suits you the best and how you live your life. Also, always look back at…
Virtue Ethics is neither deontological nor teleological, it is not concentrated upon the action itself or the consequence. It is agent centred and involves the pursuit of arete, the pursuit of excellence. This is because it is an aretaic ethic, it emphasises virtues (strengths) and vices (weaknesses) of character. The question is not what should I do but what kind of person should I be? “We are not concerned to know what goodness is but how to become good people” told Aristotle who played a part in the development of Virtue Ethics.…
Happiness What is happiness? There can be many different definitions of the word happiness. My definition of happiness is when you have a good emotion towards something. To be happy you need to work hard to get to where you want to be.…