Virtue and Happiness “Virtue is not an end in itself. Virtue is not its own reward or sacrificial fodder for the reward of evil. Life is the reward of virtue—and happiness is the goal and the reward of life” (“Virtue). This proposes that happiness is external to virtue, which is a further outcome of acting virtuously. What is is meant to live a good life? How should one live? What sort of individual should one be? Many great philosophers proposed that the way to a happy, fulfilled life starts with virtues. Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that anyone determined to live a virtuous life will reach happiness (Wagner 179). There is a strong connection between virtue and happiness, although with some exceptions.
The ethics of virtue looks at the characteristic traits of people that are either virtuous or vicious, rather looking at the actions of the person (Watson 188). The focus is on what kind of people we should strive to be. Virtue is used when making moral decisions. It doesn 't focus on religion, society, or culture, but rather it focuses on the individual themselves. If a person 's character is good then that’s when their choices and actions are seen as good. In addition, it gives guidance to the characteristics and behaviors that a good individual searches to achieve.
The Greeks stressed the four basic …show more content…
Happiness doesn 't come from yourself. You can 't make yourself happy. Happiness is said to come from "above", from god, or from the spirit world somewhere in our universe. Happiness is also the result of being virtuous. The pursuit of happiness comes from the pursuit of virtue. Evil people are sometimes happy but not because they do evil but because they achieved what they wanted or believed in. But later on because they were evil they get what they deserved. In the same way, virtuous people sometimes suffer, but not because they are being virtuous but because there is an obstacle to their
The ethics of virtue looks at the characteristic traits of people that are either virtuous or vicious, rather looking at the actions of the person (Watson 188). The focus is on what kind of people we should strive to be. Virtue is used when making moral decisions. It doesn 't focus on religion, society, or culture, but rather it focuses on the individual themselves. If a person 's character is good then that’s when their choices and actions are seen as good. In addition, it gives guidance to the characteristics and behaviors that a good individual searches to achieve.
The Greeks stressed the four basic …show more content…
Happiness doesn 't come from yourself. You can 't make yourself happy. Happiness is said to come from "above", from god, or from the spirit world somewhere in our universe. Happiness is also the result of being virtuous. The pursuit of happiness comes from the pursuit of virtue. Evil people are sometimes happy but not because they do evil but because they achieved what they wanted or believed in. But later on because they were evil they get what they deserved. In the same way, virtuous people sometimes suffer, but not because they are being virtuous but because there is an obstacle to their