Aristotle on Happiness

Aristotle's Star Virtues

(clockwise) Right object right time right place right way right person

Three Conditions of virtuous action

1. the agent must have knowledge 2. the agent must choose action for goodness sake 3. the agent must be firmly/habitually committed to good.

Aristotle's function argument

1. whatever is the chief good of humans enables them to function well 2. we look to actions to figure out human function 3. humans are distinguished by their function of thought 4. living according to reason and truth is characteristic function of humans 5. Life of living virtuously is pleasant, happy, noble

Consequences to Vices

Boredom Driven by desire Lack of fulfillment Lonliness No chance of change (doesn't see need to change)

Four Cardinal Virtues

Courage/Fortitude Temperance/self-control justice prudence

Justice

Defect: being self-fish not giving what others are owed Excess: Zealously going overboard in pursuit of what's right (LES MES)

Prudence

Excess: being overconfident and not taking advice defect: lacking in knowledge and unawareness of your ignorance

Temperance/Self-control

Excess: indulgence in pleasure alcoholic Defect: unable to enjoy pleasures (workacholic)

Life of contemplation

Highest form of happiness because it is the action of the gods.

Relationships between brothers

If good, teaches equality, respect, virtue (aristocracy) If vicious/selfish (democracy)

Parent-child relationship

If parent betters child's life (good monarch) If parent does not better child's life (tyrant)

Intermediate vs Final ends

Intermediate ends are those that are means to the final end Final ends are done for their own sake and are never means

How to develop virtue

Repeating action --> habit--> virtue To preform characteristic function well (aka live according to reason)

moral virtue/happiness

Secondary form acting with practical wisdom structures the law/unites communities of friends enable us to function well (finding the "mean") determined by reason and practical principle

Three Objects of Choice and avoidance

The noble, the advantageous, the pleasant (common good) The base, the injurious, the painful (bad/avoid)

actions contrary to the right rule

Vices. (evil/bad) Destructive involve excess of defect excessive fear --> coward too little fear--> rash Excessive food --> obesity Too little food --> anorexia we aim for the "mean" or middle ground that enables us to function well.

Moral absolutes

acts or feelings that are always wrong envy, murder, adultery

Human Action

all act for what they believe to be good. Good is the end of every action. Ends to actions are hierarchal Happiness is the final/complete end (chief good)

Noble Friendships

best type Based on virtue willing good to the other best friend

Happiness

chief good. fulfilling activities that are virtuous an achievement

hierarchal

classified according to various criteria into successive levels

Life of Pleasure (hedonism)

enslaves one and makes them like a beast NOT HAPPY

Happiness is NOT FEELING/EMOTION

feelings interfere with acting according to reason.

Intellectual virtue/ contemplation

highest form of happiness unsurpassable understanding of God (highest object) Contemplation is the activity of the gods

Life of Politics

makes happiness external rather than internal and objective

Useful Friendships

wills good to other based on utility/advantage (ex co-worker)

Hedonist Friendship

wills good to other in order to seek pleasure from them (ex friends with benefits)