Aristotle on Virtues & Happiness

The Ultimate meaning pf life appears different to different people. Beginning with Socrates, Pluto and Aristotle to contemporary thinkers, all have evolved separate approaches to life.

Some want to describe it as a pleasurable event whilst the others want us to indulge in making the world a better place than what it was before we came here. Still some others refer to religious beliefs as a mooring to attain happiness and still some others refer to life as a journey. As many theories as thinkers.

Most of them have  certainly sought God in their beliefs.  But one aspect that most of them are one is the field of Happiness. Aristotle has brought out out perhaps some of the best thoughts on this side of human character which is known as ‘Nicamochean Ethics’ or simply ‘Aristotlean Ethics’., considered as perhaps his best work in this field of thinking.

Starting with people of good up-bringing & experience, he works to a higher understanding. He attempts to define how should men best live their life. Highest aim of all human thinking is Eudaimonia – eternal or inner happiness; the most complete of all Virtues. An excellent human is a serious person good at living life, who does it well involving reason in thought & speech.

Ethics make a virtuous character, necessary for happiness.  Steps to achieve this are righteous actions under able teachers allowing development of right habits for a stable Character, to be pursued and maintained with effort which in turn gives a chance of achieving Happiness.

Four virtues that require the possession of all the ethical virtues together are magnanimity (truly deserving of highest praise); fairness of a good ruler; practical judgment as shown by good Leaders and Being a truly good friend.

Aristotle also uses nobility of a gentleman to describe virtues. Virtues like courage, require intellectual virtue associated in Nicomachean Ethics. It is not sufficient to know about virtues, but one should put that knowledge to use.

Great souls such as the kings of yore put those virtues and ethics to great use for the good of their people through creation of places of worship, across  religions, everywhere. People come there in search of Happiness and fulfillment.  And apparently receive it through His blessings.

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