Aristotle On Happiness
It is clear, due to support from personal experience and evidence from Aristotle’s essay, “On Happiness,” that one is responsible for creating his or her own happiness. For each individual, it is their sole responsibility to seek out their own happiness - or rather their function in life. The term “happiness,” is synonymous with function because having a purpose in life is what gives a human their innate will to live. Feeling that their presence is useful and meaningful allows for a constant conquest to be the best version of oneself. Aristotle, in his essay, “On Happiness,” states that “for just as the goodness and performance… of man would seem to reside in whatever is his proper function” (7). Essentially, this means that until one can
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determine and fulfill their purpose in life, it is impossible to obtain happiness. In turn, this supports the argument that no one else can be responsible for one’s happiness but him or herself. If a person desires to be content in life, they have to make the choice to be that way and leave their burdens behind them. A positive attitude and outlook on life is vital to determining the quality of life itself. For example, I know that I would not be satisfied in my life without taking the time to find joy in performing on stage. If I simply gave up on my passion every time I was disappointed that I didn’t get the role I wanted or that a show didn’t go as planned, I would spend much of my life sulking around, feeling sorry for myself.
Additionally, Aristotle asserts that “for one swallow does not make a spring….does not make a man blessed and happy” (On Happiness, 8).
This means that happiness is defined as something that withstands the test of time, as if something is fleeting, it will often leave you depressed and empty when it is gone. This “something” is known as a person’s passion or function in life. One can never reach true happiness until they discover what this means of purpose is that ‘makes them tick.’ Individuals may feel that a specific person makes them happy, however, it is their own responsibility to find these people that make them feel this way. Therefore, in a broader sense, even when one may feel that they are not accountable for their own happiness, they actually are. Furthermore, once a person finds this passion in their life, they should always push themselves to be the best and most successful at it as they can be, thereby setting a high standard for themselves because “the full attainment of excellence must be added to the mere function” (Aristotle, 8). This constant striving for excellence and raising the bar of expectations higher and higher provides man with a purpose for continuing to live. In turn this allows each person to be constantly creating a better, or enhanced, version of themselves, and ultimately maintaining their
happiness.
Generally, man as a whole is responsible for their own individual happiness because no other person can be accountable for seeking out someone else’s function in life. While other people can be helpful in this search, no one else can assess the joy inside a person but the person that is feeling it. In order to continue pursuing one’s optimal self, one must possess internal motivation and drive to determine his or her “proper function.” Without this, the pursuit of happiness is unattainable, as life would be lackluster in direction and function.
determine and fulfill their purpose in life, it is impossible to obtain happiness. In turn, this supports the argument that no one else can be responsible for one’s happiness but him or herself. If a person desires to be content in life, they have to make the choice to be that way and leave their burdens behind them. A positive attitude and outlook on life is vital to determining the quality of life itself. For example, I know that I would not be satisfied in my life without taking the time to find joy in performing on stage. If I simply gave up on my passion every time I was disappointed that I didn’t get the role I wanted or that a show didn’t go as planned, I would spend much of my life sulking around, feeling sorry for myself.
Additionally, Aristotle asserts that “for one swallow does not make a spring….does not make a man blessed and happy” (On Happiness, 8).
This means that happiness is defined as something that withstands the test of time, as if something is fleeting, it will often leave you depressed and empty when it is gone. This “something” is known as a person’s passion or function in life. One can never reach true happiness until they discover what this means of purpose is that ‘makes them tick.’ Individuals may feel that a specific person makes them happy, however, it is their own responsibility to find these people that make them feel this way. Therefore, in a broader sense, even when one may feel that they are not accountable for their own happiness, they actually are. Furthermore, once a person finds this passion in their life, they should always push themselves to be the best and most successful at it as they can be, thereby setting a high standard for themselves because “the full attainment of excellence must be added to the mere function” (Aristotle, 8). This constant striving for excellence and raising the bar of expectations higher and higher provides man with a purpose for continuing to live. In turn this allows each person to be constantly creating a better, or enhanced, version of themselves, and ultimately maintaining their
happiness.
Generally, man as a whole is responsible for their own individual happiness because no other person can be accountable for seeking out someone else’s function in life. While other people can be helpful in this search, no one else can assess the joy inside a person but the person that is feeling it. In order to continue pursuing one’s optimal self, one must possess internal motivation and drive to determine his or her “proper function.” Without this, the pursuit of happiness is unattainable, as life would be lackluster in direction and function.