What Aristotle says about the good life and happiness

When we talk about “happiness”, This sensation is often defined as something to be sought permanently or associated only with moments. There have been many philosophers who have reflected and reflect on this topic.

Aristotle He was one of those who focused the most when it came to talking about the good life and happiness. What do you have to say about it?

We must start from the assumption that what is called a good life or “eudaimonia“(eu=good and daimon=spirit) in Aristotelian works is “the highest human well-being”.

Aristotle believes so virtue and its practice they are the most important component of eudaimonia, but it also recognizes the importance of external goods such as health, wealth and beauty.

Eudaimonia requires not only good character, but also rational activity and, in his opinion, living according to reason means achieving excellence.

The good life and happiness

The Aristotelian notion of happiness remains linked to the development of human excellence.

“It is not an unattainable state or ideal. It is not something that one hopes to achieve. It is the realization of the soul’s activities according to virtue”, the philosopher told Clarín a few years ago. Diego Pinedaspecialist in this figure.

“Aristotelian happiness is activity. Men and women must learn to face the ups and downs of fortune and lead a harmonious life. It is a way of living correctly,” he said.

Aristotle proposes to act virtuously to be happy. If to be happy it is enough to act aiming for excellence, then it will always be within our power to achieve it.

Acting virtuously, striving to do one’s best regardless of the consequences, would be enough to be happy for Aristotle.

In his work “Nicomachean Ethics” he also addressed what happiness is and how to achieve it. National Geographics explains that “goodness is the greatest desire that drives all human actions.”

The scope of eudaemonia is linked to what the philosopher says about what happiness is. For him, people give it different meanings, which can range from accumulating wealth to enjoying good health or valuing other people.

How to achieve happiness?

In that text the philosopher argues that human beings need to base their lives on virtuous actions, supported by thought, justice and reason.

Understand that when men act it is because they are trying to achieve a specific goal, primarily happiness in life.

Identify three ways of living that seek happiness. The first, comparable to animals, is driven by impulses and pleasure that give happiness.

The second, however, is politics, through which people seek happiness through “honors, great feats and riches”, the magazine indicates. “As if being happy depended on the approval of others,” she explains.

Meanwhile, the third and final point is the so-called contemplative life, where the individual acts rationally and understands that happiness is an end in itself. In this thought, you don’t need anything external to make it happen.