EXISTENSIVE HAPPINESS BY ARISTOTLE

ALLOTIE PADECIO
I. DEF. OF TERMS:
 HAPPINESS
- That feeling that comes over you when you know life is good and you can't help
but smile. It's the opposite of sadness.
- state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to
intense joy
- Emotions experienced when in a state of well-being.
- the function of man is to live a certain kind of life, and this activity implies a
rational principle, and the function of a good man is the good and noble
performance of these, and if any action is well performed it is performed in
accord with the appropriate excellence: if this is the case, then happiness turns
out to be an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. (Nicomachean Ethics,
1098a13)
II. BODY:
According to Aristotle, the definition of happiness is an activity of the soul in line
with virtue. In simpler terms, happiness is a virtuous soul activity. Pleasure, honor, or
wealth, according to him is not happiness. This is one of the things that many of us
today have a misconception with. We constantly seek for happiness and almost every
time, in the most physical state, like money, power and pleasure. In Aristotle's words,
it is not in these things that we see happiness. It is in the plainest act of a good deed where
we have accomplished something better that we find happiness. This is the reason why
he explained the relation of happiness with the virtuous soul activities.
If we do something indeed good enough to pass off as virtuous, then we will be
content and find our happy zone. Pleasure, on the other hand, is another thing that always
mislead to finding our true happiness. Aristotle believes that happiness rests within an
absolutely final and self-sufficient end. The reasoning behind this theory is that every man
is striving for some end, and every action he does must be due to this desire to reach this
final end. He believes that in order for a man to be happy, he must live an active life of
virtue, for this will in turn bring him closer to the final end. Although some may believe that
these actions that the man chooses to take is what creates happiness, Aristotle believes
that these actions are just a mere part of the striving toward the final end.

1
 A. Happiness level 1: Laetus. Happiness from material objects
Happiness at the first level is simply about sensual gratification based on things /
something external. This kind of happiness can be intense but is short-lived.

B. Happiness level 2: Felix. Ego gratification. Happiness from comparison: being

better, more admired than others etc.

You feel this type of happiness when you for example win in sports or get a promotion.
Everyone likes admiration and winning to some extent but people varies a lot regarding how
strong their competitive nature is.

C. Happiness level 3: Beatitudo. The happiness from doing well for others and making
the world a better place.
-This level of happiness is based on the human desire for connection, goodness, meaning,
compassion, friendship and unity. Some has summed it up as simply: “Love!”
D. Happiness level 4: Sublime Beatitudo. Ultimate, perfect happiness
-is the most difficult to describe. It involves a search for fullness and perfection. It has to
do with finding the right balance between the other levels... and then some.

III. EXAMPLES:
- Falling in love.
- Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
- Knowing you’ve done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
- Doing charity works
- Making someone happy
IV. CONCLUSION:
- Happiness depends on acquiring a moral character, where one displays the
virtues of courage, generosity, justice, friendship, and citizenship in one's life.
These virtues involve striking a balance or "mean" between an excess and a
deficiency.

V. SOURCES:
"Aristotle Ethics of Happiness Philosophy Essay." All Answers Ltd. ukessays.com,
November 2013. Web. 11 September 2018.
<https://www.ukessays.com/essays/philosophy/aristotle-ethics-of-happiness-philosophy-
essay.php?vref=1>.