Reflection Paper#2
Abner Lopez
Philosophy
Cush Building 10
November 12, 2013 Reflection Paper#2 Each and every one of us has our own perspective of happiness. It could be being cheerful all the time, having a lot of money, going on vacations multiple times, partying, drinking, winning a competition or even eating. "Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim." (1) According to Aristotle, Happiness is our main goal. "Verbally there is very general agreement;for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement say that it is happiness, and identify living well and faring well with being happy.." (2) This means that every human activity aims at some end that we consider good. The highest ends are ends in themselves, while subordinate ends may only be means to higher ends. Those highest ends, which we pursue for their own sake, must be the supreme Good. More than anybody else, Aristotle enshrines happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself. As a result he devotes more space to the topic of happiness than any thinker prior to the modern era. He basically is saying that happiness depends on ourselves. I agree with this because we are all looking for something that will ultimately make us happy. People though can have a misunderstanding of happiness or choose to do the wrong things, thinking that particular thing makes them happy. "...but with regard to what happiness is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise." (3) Even the media and movies can make people think of what happiness is all about. Shows such as Storage Wars (4) and Hardcore Pawn (5) show how having a lot of money is happiness. Movies such as Twilight (6) and The Notebook (7) can show how full happiness is achieved by romance or a
Philosophy
Cush Building 10
November 12, 2013 Reflection Paper#2 Each and every one of us has our own perspective of happiness. It could be being cheerful all the time, having a lot of money, going on vacations multiple times, partying, drinking, winning a competition or even eating. "Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim." (1) According to Aristotle, Happiness is our main goal. "Verbally there is very general agreement;for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement say that it is happiness, and identify living well and faring well with being happy.." (2) This means that every human activity aims at some end that we consider good. The highest ends are ends in themselves, while subordinate ends may only be means to higher ends. Those highest ends, which we pursue for their own sake, must be the supreme Good. More than anybody else, Aristotle enshrines happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself. As a result he devotes more space to the topic of happiness than any thinker prior to the modern era. He basically is saying that happiness depends on ourselves. I agree with this because we are all looking for something that will ultimately make us happy. People though can have a misunderstanding of happiness or choose to do the wrong things, thinking that particular thing makes them happy. "...but with regard to what happiness is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise." (3) Even the media and movies can make people think of what happiness is all about. Shows such as Storage Wars (4) and Hardcore Pawn (5) show how having a lot of money is happiness. Movies such as Twilight (6) and The Notebook (7) can show how full happiness is achieved by romance or a