Conclusion:
A life of virtue cannot be successful in pursuing wealth or honor.
-Virtue,
or arête, means excellence in any particular area that fits the end goal of
some action. (Book 1, footnote 5)
Premises:
1.)
Virtue
is the ultimate difference between someone who lives life and someone who lives
life well. (1098a-10)
a.
Happiness
is in and of itself a virtue; it is the knowing of the soul through virtue
(1098a)
b.
Since
happiness is an end, or the telos of human life in one form, people must
practice excellence in order to achieve it. (1098a-10)
c.
Excellence
is the “being-at-work” with the soul well.
d.
Telos
means goal (refers to goal of human existence).
2.)
Out
of the three main ways that people think they may become happy, virtue is the
only way to true happiness. (1099a-30)
a.
Wealth,
as well as general pleasure, and honor cannot lead to true happiness because
actions associated with these things are not related to virtue but rather
personal comfort and self-gratification.
b.
Actions
that are associated with virtue are in and of themselves pleasurable. (1099a-10)
c.
Only
those who take pleasure from acting virtuously are truly good. (1099a-20)
3.)
Excellence
is the highest form of acting good (implicit).
a.
If
people derive joy just from being or acting virtuous, then they must be doing
something that is good in and of itself. (1098b-20)
b.
By
continuing to act virtuously, people begin to know the soul through their
virtuous actions. (1098a)
c.
Therefore,
happiness can only be achieved through the virtuous experience and not through
worldly pleasures or honor.
4.)
All
people want to achieve happiness (implicit).
a.
Many
people want to achieve happiness but usually fall short due to the fact that
they define happiness through the actions of consistent with attaining wealth
or honor.
b.
Misfortunes
are often seen as detrimental to a person’s happiness, however by acting with
as much virtue as possible in the worst situations, people can still be happy.
(1101a)
c.
If
one decides to pursue wealth or honor, or at least define their lives by
misfortunes that accompany those two things, then they will never be able to be
virtuous for the sake of being virtuous. (1100b-30)
5.)
Happiness
is good, such that being virtuous (which is good in and of itself) leads to
happiness.
a.
Happiness
is also virtue, so the act of being virtuous is part of the overarching idea of
interacting with virtue.
If happiness is in and of itself a virtue and is the knowing of the soul through virtue. As well as actions that are associated with virtue are in and of themselves pleasurable. Pleasure meaning the receiving or feeling of happiness or joy. Then my question is would it be possible to achieve pleasure, happiness, or virtue for each human or person in a different way. Some people define and are overjoyed with helping the poor or giving to the less fortunate. This could be defined as a virtuous act. But is virtue the "Telos" they are looking for or is it, in some cases what comes after that feeling of joy or happiness. An example would be do I go to heaven if I live a virtuous life. Or does the giving and helping that fills us with joy give us in return 'Good Karma?' This would be my question to Aristole.
ReplyDeleteIn 3b you write about how one can know the soul better by continuing to act virtuously. To me, the process of continuous virtuous action is a form of habituation. If this is the case, then in addition to supporting your main premise, this sub-premise could also support the point David Albert makes in his first main premise about how “virtue requires habituation.”
ReplyDeleteIn 2a you state that, "wealth and honor cannot lead to true happiness because actions associated with these things are not related to virtue but rather personal comfort and self-gratification." Aristotle claims that pursuing virtue and honor cannot be considered an activity conducive to happiness, however, can it be said that wealth and honor are both necessary in order to attain a status that enables people to commit themselves to theoretical study, which Aristotle also states is a life of happiness? As someone without wealth and status most likely is not in a position to have acquired a level of education that promotes theoretical study, wouldn't acquiring wealth and honor as a means to the ultimate end be considered acceptable? The reason for acquiring wealth and honor is different than pursuing wealth and honor for its own sake, so does that change the situation?
ReplyDeleteEmilio, your comment really interested me and I want to try and answer a few of your questions. I am not sure if happiness is felt differently for different people. That is an interesting question. However, regarding your questions on virtue, I think a virtuous person does not care about going to heaven, or whether or not they have good karma. A virtuous person, as Daniel pointed out in 2C "takes pleasure from acting virtuously." They are virtuous for the sake of being virtuous. Wealth, fame and honor are not their reasons for being virtuous. I think heaven and karma are things to gain out of being good, and a truly virtuous person would not concern him/herself over that. I think to go to heaven is an honorable thing, and so is having good karma. And as Aristotle says, "Further, men seem to pursue honour in order that they may be assured of their goodness; at least it is by men of practical wisdom that they seek to be honoured, and among those who know them, and on the ground of their virtue; clearly, then, according to them, at any rate, virtue is better" [1:5]. People who want to be honorable are doing it to reassure themselves that they are good, which to me is a lot like your questions on good karma and heaven. To go to heaven would assure that you are good and lived life well. To have good karma is also to have honor. Virtue does not mind whether it is assured or not, but it is virtuous for its own sake, and does not need assurance. I am confused with some of your comment and I would love to dig deeper into it, so please respond!
ReplyDeleteI have my doubts as to whether or not one can be virtuous in the pursuit of wealth and honor. For many the pursuit of wealth and honor coincide with being virtuous. If one is looking to become wealthy and honorable by supplying a person in need with something, then they are living a virtuous life. If a student wants to create a company that helps provide a cheap banking service to the underbanked, but has to become wealthy in order to do so, I find it hard to believe that he is unsuccessful in living a life of virtue. In 2a, it is said that wealth and honor are only for personal comfort and general satisfaction. I again look back at the banking example. The money is not for his personal comfort and general satisfaction, it is to provide those who need cheap banking that service, and to better the community he lives in. I believe the work and ensuing wealth and honor do not make this particular person incapable of being virtuous. Also, 5a speaks of happiness and it being virtuous. If wealth and honor result in allowing one to help others and be happy, I find it hard to believe the pursuit of wealth and honor would leave one to not live a virtuous life.
ReplyDelete