Happiness Reflection Paper

Even though society tends to focus on the differences between people, I would like to believe this to be false. There has to be something, anything that connects all human beings. I believe happiness is something everyone can relate to because it is something everyone has tried to obtain at one point in their lives. Aristotle defines a happy life as a blessed one and believes that genuine happiness should be one’s goal. He describes happiness as not a feeling, but rather the activity of living well. Based on this description, he believes it is the goal of a lifetime and cannot simply be obtained in one moment. Although it is a known fact that everyone wants to lead the best life that they can possibly lead, it is atypical of society to believe …show more content…
Based on our ability to think, happiness is a result of contemplation. He goes on to describe how one must possess the qualities of a happy person to be happy. Aristotle describes that we must develop and exercise the appropriate virtues if one must obtain happiness. It is the possession and exercise of virtue that is the core element of happiness. However, he believes that a virtuous person alone cannot contain happiness. Virtues are habits of the soul by which one acts well by expressing correct reason. This is acquired through practice and habitation. It is up to us to feel and act correctly. The answer to the question at the top is no. One can try, but happiness is not only based on virtue alone. (This is proven by the fact that a virtuous person cannot imply lead a happy life on the fact of being …show more content…
Through this experience, I was able to see many different personalities and characteristics about how people act and live their lives. I’ve noticed that different people act differently in positions of authority. Certainly a counselor for a six-year-old would not use the same methods as one for a sixteen-year-old. However, according to Aristotle, one should act virtuously even though I do believe there is no right way to act. If there is no right way to act, is there a wrong way to act? I believe this question can only be answered by the person themselves. The answer is based on morals and a belief of what is right and wrong. Aristotle believes that virtue chooses to find the mean and act in the middle. What Aristotle is trying to describe is that no two extremes are good. I believe what he is trying to say is that both are good and bad in their own right. By attempting to describe the middle, Aristotle is trying to find balance and take out what is good in