Aristotle's Account of Happiness (Essay Sample)

ARISTOTLE’S ACCOUNT OF HAPPINESS
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Aristotle’s Account of Happiness
Aristotle was one of the scholars who provided many philosophical views about how human beings should live. Although his perspectives may be seen as controversial, he mostly talked about the truth about issues like virtues and happiness. According to him, happiness depends on an individual and not others. He treasures happiness as a central purpose in life since it is based on an individual’s goals. The paper presents Aristotle’s account of happiness as presented in the books of Nicomachean Ethics.
While many people perceive happiness as a state of mind, Aristotle held a different position. According to Aristotle, happiness is living well and achieving goals that are adapted to human nature. He articulates that human beings do not do things because they think they are bad for them. He asserts that a person gains happiness by achieving different things in life, including; friends, wealth, health, and knowledge. These elements enhance human perfection, thus enriching their lives. Furthermore, Aristotle asserts that this type of happiness cannot be achieved or lost in a small period like other enjoyable sensations. This is because it is the ultimate value of life, measuring how a person has lived and whether they have maximized their full potential as human beings. Therefore, it becomes impossible for a person to decide whether they have lived a happy life until it is over. For example, it would be insensible to articulate that a football game has been great during halftime. This is because there still remains time to do things differently and better to realize the desired goals.[Ameriks, Karl, and Desmond M. Clarke. Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 2000. p. 137.]
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle strives to explore what can be defined as happiness. Aristotle believed that happiness developed from practicing virtues. He noted that human beings can reach a small state of happiness through fame, power, and money but can only reach the ultimate happiness by practicing virtue. He denotes that there are two types of virtues, including moral and intellectual virtues. Aristotle argued that one would not achieve the eudaimonia state if one were incapable of practicing both virtues. Some of the virtues that people need to adhere to include generosity, courage, temperance, and friendship.[Crisp, R. (Ed.). (2014). Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics. Cambridge University Press. p. 206.]
Furthermore, Aristotle notes that happiness infers to the human's ability to live a life that allows them to apply to reason. He recognizes that good and bad fortune can play a crucial role in influencing happiness. For instance, he acknowledges that happiness could be influenced by fac