Is virtuous person the happy person? Does virtuousness leads to happiness? Aristotle claims that virtuous activity controls happiness. From this line, it is understandable that the virtuousness is the source of happiness. What are the components or the elements that form virtuousness then? How does one become a virtuous person to achieve happiness in a life? What is the definition of happiness? What are the qualifications and necessities to become a virtuous human being? Can the animals be virtuous living being too? Does the happiness is the ultimate goal in a life time? These are some of the questions that need to be debated exploring the views and thoughts of the philosophers and thinkers. This paper will mainly focus on the views and ideas of the Aristotle to seek answers for the above questions. The love of wisdom as the book (The Great Conversation, p...?) says is to begin by asking questions to seek the reasons and truth.
The general form of justification that the virtuous person is the happy person has been agreed by both Plato and Aristotle. However, the method of approach to ethic is quite different as given by different philosophers especially Plato and Aristotle. For instance, the basic ethical question such as what makes for a good life has various view points and reasons. The argument that the happiness is living virtuously has been greatly debated and clarified by Aristotle. According to Aristotle, happiness is being termed as eudaemonia, which means “well being” or human “flourishing” (Melchert 188). The conception of the ethical virtues and of human flourishing (happiness) continues to exert great influence in philosophical debate. In simple language term, eudaemonia can be described as a contented state of being happy, health, and prosperous.
The book “The Great Conversation” says everyone desires happiness (Melchert 188). The philosophical question is why everyone wants to be happy and