Happiness Is an Activity Essay - 1287 Words

In this paper I will discuss Aristotle’s claim that happiness is a kind of activity and not a momentary pleasure. Some people might worry that Aristotle is wrong in making this claim by presuming that happiness is a state of mind rather than a constant pursuit in which a person must actively strive for throughout the entirety of ones life. I will argue that Aristotle is correct when he declares that happiness is a kind of activity that we strive for and ultimately attain throughout the entirety of our lives rather than just a feeling or state that we happen to have at any given moment. First I will explain Aristotle’s view on happiness and then I will offer some objections to Aristotle’s claim that happiness is an activity. Finally, I will†¦show more content†¦It is the end that is pursued for the sake of itself that is the highest good. Aristotle explains, â€Å"Now happiness more than anything else seems complete without qualification, since we always choose it, and also choose it because of itself, never because of something else.† (Nicomachean Ethics 1097b 1-4). Here Aristotle shows us that the happiness that a person who lives a meaningful and excellent life possesses is a happiness that is much more than a momentary pleasure that is found and lost in a small amount of time. Aristotle explains that happiness is self-sufficient and is something that is continuously sought after in practice. He explains that in order for us to understand ultimate happiness, we must, â€Å"first find the function of a human being† (Nicomachean Ethics 1097b 25-26). The function of a human being, according to Aristotle, differs from every other natural organism that resides on Earth. We are unique in our ability to understand and reason (Nichomachean Ethics 1098b 8-9). Because we are capable of reasoning, we are able to learn from our mistakes and actively seek virtue based on our ability to understand the consequences of our actions. Children and animals differ in this respect because they are not capable of making rational decisions. Aristotle uses the example of the harpist to show that the function of the harpist is to play the harp and the function of the good harpist is to do it well. (Nicomachean Ethics1097b 8-12). AristotleShow MoreRelatedHappiness Is An Activity Of The Soul1449 Words   |  6 PagesExplain what it means for Aristotle to say that happiness is an activity of the soul. Why does he call this account an â€Å"ethics†? It is believed that the supreme good is happiness, although many people have trouble defining happiness. There are those who believe it has something to do with pleasure, while there are those who believe it has something to do with how well they live or do something. Everything we do has a telos, an end or a purpose. Happiness is construed as the final telos because it isRead MoreThe Effects Of Routine Activities On Happiness Essay1348 Words   |  6 PagesIt has been argued that happiness demonstrates significant variability across time, age, and contexts. Little research has examined the combined effects of behavior, attitudes, and lifespan development on happiness. The purpose of the study carried out by Bailey, Kang, and Schmidt (2016) was to determine the influence of leisure routine, locus of control, wisdom, and age on happiness. Leisure routines compromised social media, reflection, physical activity, time outdoors, and friends. In additionRead MorePersonal Statement : Pra cticing Happiness Activities1156 Words   |  5 PagesGraduate programs, visit of mother-in-law, and the midterm exam. I have decided that practicing happiness activities would fit perfectly into this chaotic week and I am glad I did. Normally, I would practice physical activity, as I did for the past six years, but given that I just had a child, physical activity was out of option, so I had to choose an alternative method to increase my happiness. One of the activities was avoiding overthinking. I had a habit of ruminating, which made me miserable, especiallyRead MoreSexual Activities And The Relation Between Frequency Of Sex And Happiness1737 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most common questions associated with sexual activities is in regard to the relation between frequency of sex and happiness. Does more sex lead to greater happiness? Although this looks like a simple question at first, it has been the center of numerous studies and debates for many years, and it is proven to be a complex and often fascinating matter to be investigated. For a very long time, the traditional point of view offered a simple â€Å"yes† answer to this question – by saying that moreRead MoreThe Search for Happiness Essay1026 Words   |  5 Pages The search for happiness has been one of the greatest driving forces over the ages. Defined as an active or passive sense of pleasure or satisfaction, happiness drives individuals to accomplish a number of fulfilling activities in their lives. Thus an evaluation of meanings attached to happiness provides insight on how an individual maximizes their pleasure. Concepts of positive-psychology provide an explanation of what is happiness and show a number of activities that enhance contentment. NajemyRead MoreAristotle s Views On Happiness1509 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will focus on Aristotle’s claim that happiness is an activity and not just a momentary pleasure. Skeptics claim happiness is a state of mind and Aristotle is wrong to claim that happiness is an ongoing pursuit a person must actively strive for during one’s life. This paper argues that Aristotle is correct when he states that happiness is an activity, the central purpose of human life and a goal in itself that individuals strive for throughout the entirety of their lifetime and ultimatelyRead MoreThe How Of Happiness : A New Approach For Getting The Life You Want By Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky865 Words   |  4 PagesHow of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is simultaneously an academic book and comprehensive guide about positive psychology and it’s applications in daily life. Dr. Lyubomirsky provides not only facts and figures to back up her science but also includes quizzes and exercises for the reader to learn more about himself or herself in context with the book. The book is broken down into 3 different sections: How to Attain Real and Lasting Happiness, HappinessRead MoreThe Better Morality: Kant and Aristotle on Happiness1538 Words   |  7 Pagesbeings desire happiness and that all rational beings at least should desire moral righteousness. However, their treatments of the relationship between the two are starkly opposed. While Aristotle argues that happiness and morality are nearly synonymous (in the respect that virtue necessarily leads to happiness), Kant claims that not only does happiness have no place in the realm of morality, but that a moral action usually must contradict the actor’s own inclination toward happiness. Because KantRead More Aristotles Concept of Happiness Essay1073 Words   |  5 Pagespursuing happiness. Aristotles recommendations for finding happiness are not accepted today with out some struggle and careful examination. In Aristotles time, slaves, women and children were not truly considered human; so in many cases the philosopher is directing his words towards free males only. It is necessary to understand that by overlooking this discrimination and applying it to all people, one can discover the timeless wisdom of Aristotle. To begin, one must learn what happiness meansRead More`` How Happy Are You And Why?1247 Words   |  5 Pageshave control over their own happiness. Lyubomirsky supports her claims with her interviews with happy people and scientific studies. Her purpose is to consider steps that people can take in order to become happier. She establishes an informal relationship with her audience of unhappy people. Lyubomirsky focuses on social psychology and the â€Å"development of ‘sustainable’ happiness† (179). She brings the idea of genetics into happiness and different aspects of happiness. She determines that there are