D’Arcangelo 1

Aristotle defines happiness to be the ultimate good and the overall goal of human lives.

Aristotle writes “What is always chosen as an end in itself and never as a means to something

else is called final in an unqualified sense. This description seems to apply to happiness above all

else: for we always choose happiness as an end in itself and never for the sake of something

else.” (15) Happiness is our ultimate purpose in life and everything we do is to accomplish this

purpose. All of our daily actions are for the sole purpose of happiness. Aristotle points out that

“Honor, pleasure, intelligence and all virtue we choose partly for themselves, or we would

choose each of them even if no further advantage would accrue from them, but we also choose

them partly for the sake of happiness.” (15) These virtues are what are thought to make us happy,

therefore we choose each of them in hopes of achieving happiness.

Aristotle believes that being good and being happy takes practice but it is through being

good that happiness can be achieved. Aristotle says “Happiness, as we have said, requires

completeness in virtue as well as a complete lifetime.” (23) Furthermore, according to Aristotle,

children do not know happiness. It takes years of practicing judgement for virtues to become

habits. Once virtues are practiced habitually they become second nature but must continuously

be practiced or else they will be lost.

Mood enhancing drugs go against Aristotle’s definition of happiness. The high of these

drugs provide the user with a feeling of euphoria that lasts for a brief period of time. When the

high wears off, the user does the drug again in hopes of feeling another burst of euphoria.

Aristotle would be against this instant euphoria being perceived as happiness. According to

Aristotle, “The happy man will have the attribute of permanence… and he will remain happy

throughout his life. For he will always or to the highest degree both do and contemplate what is

in conformity with virtue.” (25) A happy man does not rely on drugs for his happiness as his
 D’Arcangelo 2

virtues bring him happiness. Often, drug users value drugs over their virtues. To Aristotle, being

virtuous is necessary for happiness and happiness is an achievement that humans have to

constantly work at.

Aristotle would not agree with the saying “Ignorance is bliss.” Aristotle speaks about the

importance of finding a happy medium. Aristotle says “It is the reference to two vices: the one of

excess and the other of deficiency.” (45) Going along with the saying and willingly choosing to

be ignorant would be considered a deficiency, as harping on the truth would be an excess.

Virtues are what make up our happiness therefore Aristotle would expect courage to be

necessary to deal with the harsh truth. Aristotle would consider anyone who lives by this saying

cowardly because they are not living virtuous.

Aristotle would be against the statement that happiness is overrated and what really

matters is doing the right thing. Aristotle declares that “Happiness is of all things the one most

desirable, and it is not counted as one good thing among many others.” (15) Every person has the

desire to be happy and to Aristotle happiness is achieved through practicing virtues. These

virtues such as courage, self-control, honesty and generosity result in achievements which results

in happiness. Aristotle proclaims “The man who shuns and fears everything and never stands his

ground becomes a coward, whereas a man who knows no fear at all and goes to meet every

danger becomes reckless.” (36) Once a person can be neither a coward nor reckless but be

courageous, they have found the mean. Through finding the mean, the balance of virtues, they

are also on the path to achieving happiness.

Moreover, religiously practicing these virtues will result in doing the right thing. Aristotle

believes there will never have to be a choice over doing the right thing or happiness. In the

moment doing the right thing may not be pleasurable but that has nothing to do with a person’s
 D’Arcangelo 3

overall happiness. Aristotle says “For one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one sunny

day; similarly, one day or a short time does not make a man blessed or happy.” (18) To Aristotle,

happiness would not be considered true happiness if under the circumstances a person did not act

in the moral way.

Aristotle’s definition of happiness may be harsh but it is accurate. What’s harsh about his

definition is how happiness takes such an extensive period of time to achieve that not even

teenagers have experienced it. This is somewhat shocking as the younger years of a person’s life

are thought to be some of the happiest. However, according to Aristotle’s definition, this

happiness experienced in the younger years would actually just be considered pleasurable

moments. Aristotle’s point is valid because younger people tend to more commonly live in the

moment rather than act for future purposes.

If happiness could be considered through pleasurable moments, humans would feel

purposeless. Aristotle writes “The common run of people and the most vulgar identify it with

pleasure, and for that reason are satisfied with a life of enjoyment.” (8) Living a life in the

moment is not actually happiness because to achieve happiness humans must have a purpose.

Aristotle’s definition of happiness may seem unachievable as all humans have free will and it is

difficult to always make the moral decision but it is the most accurate definition of happiness.

Other than pleasure, wealth and honor are defined by many to be happiness. Aristotle points out

the issues with these being the defining factors of happiness. Wealth often leads to greed so a

wealthy man will never be satisfied while honor relies on society’s view of a man which creates

a lack of self-sufficiency. To Aristotle, happiness does include a successful life but it will not

solely rely on pleasure, wealth and honor. Happiness is continuously living a virtuous life and

finding the right way to act in all situations.

D’Arcangelo 4