The Philosophy of Happiness - 11705 Words

Chapter 1 The Philosophy of Happiness Aristotle on Happiness Since the earliest days of Western thought philosophers have concerned themselves with the nature of happiness. One of the earliest to ask the question ‘what is happiness?’ was Aristotle, who, in a manner typical of philosophers, before providing an answer insisted on making a distinction between two different questions. His first question was what was meant by the word ‘happiness’—or rather, its ancient Greek equivalent eudaimonia. His second question was where happiness was to be found, that is to say, what is it that makes us truly happy. Reasonably enough he thought that it was futile to try to answer the second question without having given thought to the first. The†¦show more content†¦In adult life there are things that we do only as means to an end; we go to war, for instance, in order to bring peace. Clearly these cannot, in themselves, be what makes life worth living (Aristotle, 1992). If life is to be worth l iving it must surely be for something that is an end in itself. One such end is pleasure. The pleasures of food and drink and sex Aristotle regards as, on their own, too brutish to be a fitting end for human life. If we combine them with aesthetic and intellectual pleasures then we find a goal that has been seriously pursued by people of significance. Others prefer a life of virtuous public action—the life of a real politician, not like the false politicians, who are only after money or power. Thirdly, there is the life of scientific contemplation, as exemplified by the Athenian philosopher Anaxagoras, who when asked why one should choose to be born rather than not replied ‘In order to admire the heavens and the order of the universe’. Having weeded out a number of other candidate lives, Aristotle settled for a short list of three: a life of pleasure, a life of politics, and a life of study. The pursuit of wealth was ruled out briskly at the start of the inquiry. Money is only as good as what it can buy. It is how someone spends his money that shows us where he really thinks happiness lies: does he spend it on luxury, for instance, or does he use it to gain political power, or give it to thoseShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Philosophy And Happiness By Epicurus991 Words   |  4 Pages Letter to Menoeceus by Epicurus In this piece of writing Letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus highly emphasized on the importance of philosophy and happiness. To begin with, he encouraged people of all ages, whether young or old, to study philosophy in order to develop better understanding of what desires to fulfill. By philosophy, Epicurus meant a state of mind, based on a realistic worldview that, if its implications were understood, would free people’s minds from superstitious fear and moral anxietyRead MoreAn Essay On Aristotle s Philosophy Of Happiness1656 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle’s Philosophy of Happiness Priya Shah 211620523 Sosc 2570, Tutorial 04 R 11:30-12:30 Oct 22, 2014 Kurosawa’s Ikiru (1952) portrays a powerful representation of what it means to live a full life. In this film we witness a strong correlation with Aristotle’s philosophy of happiness and virtue. In this paper, we will examine both the film and Aristotle’s meaning of true happiness and critically analyze how both are related.   Aristotle’s views on happiness can be complexRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Aristotle s Views On Happiness And Human Flourishing With His Philosophy991 Words   |  4 PagesMy moral philosophy is what you put in you get back. For example, I put into my life my thoughts, my beliefs and my behaviors. What I get back from this is my reality that my thoughts, beliefs and behaviors have created. In my philosophy like Aristotle, I believe in Aristotle’s views on happiness and human flourishing with his philosophy. (Aristotle 4) I also believe in some of Kant’s philosophy through his concept of its our duty to live up to our h ighest moral capacity. (Kant 3) I believe it willRead More John Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Essay1099 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Along with other noted philosophers, John Stuart Mill developed the nineteenth century philosophy known as Utilitarianism - the contention that man should judge everything in life based upon its ability to promote the greatest individual happiness. While Bentham, in particular, is acknowledged as the philosophy’s founder, it was Mill who justified the axiom through reason. He maintained that because human beings are endowed with the ability for consciousRead MoreThe Between Utilitarianism And Deontology1345 Words   |  6 Pagesthis question. Bentham and Mills’ Utilitarianism stresses maximizing pleasure and happiness in the world over pain and unhappiness. In contrast, Kant’s Deontology focuses on honoring duties and obligations. A moral action must be â€Å"considered right and good by most people† (Merriam-Webster). The way Kant proposes that one achieves happiness is overall superior to Utilitarianism because, by following Kant’s philosoph y, one observes the majority s view of just action. Deontological philosophers believeRead MoreSocrates Vs Socrates1704 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates and Aristotle would think that philosophy was for the greater good and expanding the minds of those around them. Socrates in particular would regard philosophy as conversational and weeding out those who ‘know’ and those who do not. Aristotle would use philosophy to try to reach the conclusion on what happiness is. These great thinkers believed absolute contemplation was the greatest pleasure human beings could reach, so for them philosophy was reaching a type of Nirvana. Take the ApologyRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill And Immanuel Kant1387 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of happiness is one that has been explored and debated by many different philosophers. Two of these philosophers are John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant. Mill, in Utilitarianism defines happiness as pleasure without pain. He builds upon this idea of happiness when establishing his moral philosophy, stating that the action that would bring about the maximum amount of happiness is the most moral action. On the other hand, Kant establishes happiness as well-being and a satisfaction with one’sRead MoreKant: Moral Theories1002 Words   |  5 PagesKants moral theory According to Timmons, the field of philosophy is not complete without the mention of Kant whose contributions were major (205). This, he adds, was influenced by his originality, subtle approach and the difficulty of his works. Timmons cites that moral requirements are a requirement of reason, which is the ideology of Kant’s Moral theory; hence, immoral act is an act against reason. Consequently, speaking on the terminologies of Kant we visualize moral requirements as CategoricalRead MoreThe Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living1629 Words   |  7 Pagespeople to happiness? If there is a map, every human being can attain happiness easily. Is there any map for seeking happiness? How can people get hold of the ‘map’ to happiness? In order to attain happiness, there are different kinds of religions and philosophies that provide directions. There are many religions around the world that give people positive support for general and mental health and helping people to be happier in life. Also, many philosophers deal with the nature of happiness and theRead MoreBoethius, Consolation of Philosophy: 4.22-29776 Words   |  4 Pages3, 2011 Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy: 4.22-29 In this passage Philosophy wants Boethius and the reader to understand that fortune does not truly bring a person true happiness. In its realistic form, fortune is a never-ending spinning wheel that gives and takes away fortune at any moment it time. Thus, one should never confuse fortune with true happiness because true happiness cannot be taken away. According to philosophy, in its truest form pure happiness is embedded within each person (i