Aristotle and the Good

Aristotle has a view that humans do things to reach a higher level of good. Happiness is the highest good that people can attain. Though this is his view, Aristotle also says that people should not aim at happiness. He states that people do aim at what they believe to be happiness. To Aristotle, happiness is not a satiable goal for most humans. Only through living a completely virtuous life can people really understand happiness. It is because people do not have enough virtue that they are not able to distinguish true happiness from the somewhat empty conception that they currently have. A virtuous person, to Aristotle, will find virtue to be a good thing and so will find happiness in doing virtuous deeds. A person devoid of virtue will find happiness in avoiding virtue and thus will not be living a "truly happy" or good life. Neither will they have the right perception of what a good life might be.

I am positive that I do not live a completely virtuous life. At the same time, I have the excuse that I am human. I am not expected to be perfect and no one should be. So, it does not matter to me whether or not I have the correct view of happiness in Aristotle's eyes, I just know that I can find happiness whether it is the correct view or not. I consider anything that puts a smile on my face to be causing happiness. If that is not the case, as Aristotle seems to believe, then I am at a loss for what to consider it. I agree with Aristotle that what may cause that happiness may or very well may not be good, but that is irrelevant in the question as to whether or not the questionable deed caused happiness. I disagree that happiness is the result of virtue. It is the feeling of satisfaction after any cause, be it virtue or vice.

aristotle, nichomachean ethics