Aristotle states that if all of our actions were a means to something else‚ then there would be nothing we would try to ultimately achieve‚ and life would be pointless. A highest good would solve this‚ but it must be a means to itself‚ self-sufficient and within reach. "Happiness‚ then‚ is apparently something complete and self-sufficient‚ since it is the end of things achievable in action." Happiness alone satisfies these‚ and thus is our highest good. Aristotle describes all beings as having
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"Happiness is an imaginary condition‚ formerly often attributed by the living to the dead‚ now usually attributed by adults to children‚ and by children to adults." Thomas Szasz (b. 1920)‚ U.S. psychiatrist. "Emotions‚" The Second Sin (1973). Szasz is stating that since happiness is an imaginary condition‚ basically no one has it and it does not exist. Although it is a feeling and can be internal‚ happiness is what we make it out to be. Certain things such as money and having the most expensive
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Nicomachean Ethics Book III‚ Chapters 69 In Chapter 6 of Book III of Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle teaches of how fear is not something that can be easily described. He talks about what fear means in terms of courage. To be courageous does not necessarily mean to be fearless. Aristotle goes on to explain that having fear‚ in some instances‚ can be “noble”. A very interesting note that he adds is that “For no one is better at enduring frightening things
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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
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Defining Happiness Many philosophical thinkers have attempted to explain the question of what makes human beings happy and how this happiness can be spread to the greatest number of people. This issue is perhaps one of the most challenging to tackle because there are so many different ways for people to achieve happiness. Scholars such as John Stuart Mill and Aristotle attempt to point out universal truths by defining key aspects of happiness such as pleasure and attempting to do good. They both
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When someone is asked‚ “What is the main purpose of life?” most would answer that they want to live a happy life. What exactly is meant by the term “happiness?” Aristotle‚ a philosophy that was a big influence in Western Europe‚ decided to discover what it means to truly be happy and how humans could attain it. Aristotle studied many areas of human knowledge and wrote his thesis in his book The Nicomachean Ethics. He develops the notion that thinking will lead to the highest happiness that a human
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After Aristotle’s rein‚ a new age on philosophy took subject matters into a new direction‚ emphasizing on emotion‚ and unorthodox methods. Two of the four iconic philosophical groups who greatly influenced society on how to obtain happiness were the stoics and the Epicureanism. The difference between these groups and their predecessors was not their end goal‚ like happiness‚ but the unconventional ways they chose to achieve their idea. Take for instance Epicureanism‚ they emphasized “on an ideal
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People often think money cannot grant you access to the perception of happiness. According to happiness researchers Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton money can be very influential to people’s happiness (Cass R. Sunstein‚ 549). In itself money can not provide them with happiness‚ but money presents them with endless opportunities to experience happiness. Money provides an outlet out of their monotonous everyday lives. The American work ethic has traditionally been the catalyst for American success
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In my opinion‚ the concept of ownership is well defined by Sartre’s views and Plato’s views. I believe that putting the ownership of tangible objects as a priority in one’s life will lead to unhappiness. It is true that living a comfortable life may allow happiness‚ however living a life full of love and joy will make people more happy. A person who works long hours and has many things will not usually be as happy as a person who spends their time doing something that they love to do. These may be
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Grant’s article “Does Trying to Be Happy Make Us Unhappy?” and Guest’s article “Pursuing the Science of Happiness” have many connections with the quotation from Viktor Frankl. Grant and Guest would agree on the quote from Viktor Frankl. All three of their sayings of happiness are based on the same thing stated by Viktor Frankl‚“...happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” This means that all three of them have the same argument which means that Grant and Guest will respond positively to the quotes
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