Ultimately, his system seems to the best for a number of reasons, including ease of understanding. Aristotle is clearly trying to define happiness while still noting how to live happily, while Epicurus is simply giving advice on how to live a happy life. Happiness certainly means different things to different people, as these two men show, but Epicurus seems to have a deeper understanding of it, while Aristotle is still struggling to define it, before he can live it. As a reader of both philosophies, it seems Epicurus was a just man who wanted happiness for everyone, while Aristotle was a snob, who felt the "masses" did not understand the true nature of happiness. They were shallow, and could not possibly lead fulfilled and happy lives. That alone makes Epicurus' beliefs more appealing and more equitable for all, rather than the "superior" beings Aristotle believes can only find happiness. Aristotle also believes happiness is a gift of the gods, and if this is true, then many people can never be happy, and that simply does not seem right, fair, or equitable. Epicurus had a better outlook it seems, and did not have to reduce his philosophy to only a chosen few or the highest members of society. It is a better philosophy that includes everyone and excludes no one, regardless of rank or station. Epicurus' theories could be made even better by only a few minor adjustments. He believes some items are up to chance, and so, cannot be controlled by man. However, man always has control over his emotions and his responses, and how he reacts to these items of chance are certainly under his control. For example, a man loses...
Epicurus would say that was an item of chance. However, how the man reacts to losing his job is not chance, and it can affect his happiness. He can look for another job with enthusiasm, network with his friends, update his resume, and keep a positive and upbeat attitude until he finds another job. On the other hand, he can become depressed, never leave the house, live on unemployment, and then blame everyone but himself for his misfortune. Clearly, these two reactions are quite different, and just as clearly, they both affect the happiness of the individual. The person with a positive reaction may have stress and worry, but his outlook will be happier than the person who chooses to be depressed with a decidedly negative reaction. Epicurus believes things happen by chance. By living a prudent but happy life, and choosing to react positively to circumstances, a person can live an even happier and more complete life than even Epicurus imagined.
Our modern world has also shown us that human actions have much more far-reaching and complex effects than have been previously thought. We have become so aware of these complexities, in fact, that in our most rational moments we human beings can admit that we do not know the full range of effects that our actions are having on the world. Because of this, leading the good life must also
Aristotle and a Great Workplace (APA Citation) Aristotle and a Great Workplace From the beginning of its evolution, human beings have been searching for the meaning of happiness. While many may seem this to be an inconsequential questions, others have devoted entire lives to the search for happiness. One such person who devoted a great deal of thought to the question of man's happiness was the famous ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle. His
Happiness is perhaps the most illusive, but most sought after mental state in life. Like all human experiences, happiness is also a very subjective state; different things make different people happy. This is why it is so difficult to say what happiness is, and why there has been so much disagreement among philosophers, who have nonetheless not been deterred from attempting to describe this elusive emotion. Both Plato and Aristotle
Aristotle was one of the philosophers who spent a great deal of their time in defining and explaining ethics since he believed that ethics was a science whose practicality was crucial to mankind. In this paper, we shall discuss the ideas of Aristotle pertaining to the civic relationships including the virtues, happiness, justice, deliberation and friendship. In the second part of the paper, we shall also discuss how these ideas
Acting in accordance with virtuous principles is a key to attaining happiness. In Book Three of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains the difference between voluntary and involuntary action as well as total passivity. In the first chapter of the book, the philosopher explains the importance of free will and taking action in determining ethical behavior. Aristotle concludes that the only truly ethical acts are those that are chosen by
Aristotle and Happiness What is the point of life? Happiness? Virtue? Power? All of these? The ancient Greek philosophers would have pushed us gently in the direction of virtue, although they would also have argued that both happiness and power derive from virtue and so the quest for a fulfilled life does not have to be seen in terms of a trade-off between doing good and doing well. This paper examines
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now