Aristotle's Philosophy of Happiness

0ANALYSIS ON ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHIES
ANALYSIS ON ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHIES
Aristotle’s the theory of Mean is recognized as one of the most famous contribution in
the Nicomachean Ethics, establishing the philosophy of human’s happiness (Polansky). The
theory of Mean includes the concept of Happiness and how man can attain because happiness
is accepted as the ultimate end or result of every act that man does. Aristotle puts forward the
quality of goodness and ethics as the ultimate factor due to which man can achieve happiness
(Polansky). However, the observation does not sustain in certain cases and thereby on the
contrary Aristotle presents that not all happiness is pleasure provided with the fact that
pleasure is a temporary aspect.The concept of happiness is further evaluated through life
experiences, that is, the best version of happiness can be attained through the ‘Excellence’ or
‘Virtue’ of life experiences (Polansky). To attainthe ‘Excellence’ or ‘Virtue’ in life
experiences, one must find his mean and mean is identified as the right blend of moral aspect
that exist between two extremes of excess and deficit. The essay delivers an in depth analysis
of Aristotle’stheory of The Mean in association with attaining happiness and living a life of
excellence and virtue through an argumentative structure. The argument is established on the
basis of my opinion that is, I do not agree on Aristotle’s argument that living in the mean will
produce sustainable happiness. Following it, the essay provides concrete standpoints to
support the argument in the following paragraph.
The concept of happiness was initially recognized by the association of ethics.
Aristotle’s Nicomachean ethics begins by stating that there are certain ultimate good that is
defined as ultimate happiness (Polansky). And attaining ultimate happiness through actions is
human’s definite goal. The good actions are identified when the ethics are incorporated
having substantial life experience and understanding of virtues. If the ethical habits fail to be
good, that man will be distracted and hindered from acquiring ethical knowledge. Happiness

1ANALYSIS ON ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHIES
depends on the person and his priority. Some prioritize honor to be their happiness and others
think it is found in contemplation. As per the Platonists claim, the Good does not stand as a
universal idea as the good dwells in variant things but Plato on the contrary thinks as well as
emphasizes that good is the ultimate demand of humans and therefore following it, there
should be a practical ramifications for how a person should act (Polansky). However, there
are certain cases, in which the external cultural constraints makes a person act and it is the
moment to witness a man using sense of virtues keeping the fact in mind that the need to act
in association with virtue is an integral part of human’s nature (Polansky). Aristotle
recognizes ethical virtue as a habitual trait that is imposed towards an action in accordance
with the deliberate preferences and choices. The importance of ethical virtues is given
priority towards the attainment of happiness (Celano). Before establishing the argument it is
necessary to clarify the meaning of action. Voluntary actions are meanst to be guided by
virtuous ethics and morals, whereas in case of involuntary action, there has to be an external
principle due to which the action is caused and that particular action must not be recognized
as a contribution of the man. An action that is done through fear is considered to be partially
responsible meaning voluntary and the action that is done out of ignorance is seen through
different degrees of volutariness. Thereby, following such instances, it is understood that it is
not always the actions performed depending on which one is characterized as good or bad.
However, Aristotle’s concepts regarding happiness attract sharp argument that arises due to
the diverse nature of the world. It is not always true that to qualify happiness, one must act
virtuously (Polansky). The actions depend upon situations and situations are difficult to
judge. Thereby, the certainty and firmness in acting virtuously is not always seen. It is the
instincts, reflex action and even accidental actions that may not seem virtuous provided with
the fact that these are involved in human nature and are practiced depending on the situations
(Polansky). For example, thievery is not seen as virtuous and ethical action but if it is

2ANALYSIS ON ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHIES
performed in order to save a life of someone who is poor and cannot afford his living like the
story Robin Hood who stole from the wealthy and rich people to give the poor. Such
characters are seen as hero, or a man of good will who attains happiness through unethical
action. Thereby, the Aristotle’s theory is often identified as flawed.
The need of developing good habits to acknowledge the virtuous leads, Aristotle
considers law and education as the essential means of keeping the people virtuous (Baykent).
It is the wit and knowledge that develops the moral understanding and set standards to act
virtuously (Celano). Right education is the essential factor that makes one understand the
importance of good and bad experiences (Polansky). Education provides the potential and the
capability of accepting the both sides of life that good experiences and bad experiences
(Baykent). Therefore, Aristotle emphasizes on the virtue that is found in the mean or middle
of two extremes of excess and deficits and the mean always depends on the person
(Polansky). Virtue is a habit that needs to be imbibed and habituated in order to act virtuously
but the means of acting virtuously differs in its magnitude, for instance, the mean established
between rashness and fear is bravery, in case of pleasures and pain the mean is temperance, in
case of dishonor and honor, the mean established is magnanimity (Polansky). Other examples
like the mean of truth build between boastfulness and self depreciation, mean of wit between
buffoonery and boorishness (Celano). Even, the mean between the sense of quarrelsome and
flattery is identified as friendliness (Polansky). As per the philosophy of Aristotle’s theory of
mean, it appears that attaining the life of virtue is difficult. The argument is established in this
very concept of mean theory(Celano). It is observed that virtue is an integral part of human
being’s nature and the fact that the judgement virtue whether it is good or bad absolutely
depends on man’s perception and actions. Therefore, it not virtue that needs to be habituated,
it is the laws that needs to be registered in every human mind making an individual conscious
regarding their actions (Polansky). Though law cannot force an individual to act virtuously,