Conclusion: The life of theoretical study is the happiest one
1. Happiness
is an activity (162)
a. Happiness
is not a disposition (162)
b. Someone
suffering a series of tragic events is not happy (162)
c. Someone
asleep their entire life is not happy (162)
2. (i)
Relaxation, recreational activity, and sex will not lead to happiness
a. Relaxation
is not done simply for the sake of relaxation (163)
b. Relaxation
is not an end result. (163)
c. Recreational
activity is a kind of relaxation (163)
d. Sex
is a kind of recreational activity (163)
3. (i) Performing Virtuous activities can
result in happiness
a. Happiness
and virtuous actions are desirable for their own sake (163)
b. There
are two different kinds of activities. Activities done for their own sake and Activities
done as a means to something else. (163)
4. (i) Happiness is in accordance with
reason
a. Happiness
is in accordance virtue (163)
b. Reason
is the highest virtue (163)
c. Happiness
will tend towards the highest virtue (163)
5. Contemplation
is one of the best ways towards happiness (165)
a. Only
contemplation will result from contemplation (165)
b. Contemplation
is a self-sufficient activity (164)
c. Those
who “know” will be better off than those who need to inquire (167)
d. (i)
People must first inquire to become those who “know”
6. A
philosopher will be more happy than someone who is not a philosopher
a. A
person will be more happy if they can perform a virtuous action continuously
(166)
b. Virtuous
military deeds require external equipment and power (165)
c. Virtuous
political deeds require some sort of external force (165)
d. Contemplation
is an action can be performed continuously once essential needs are met (166)
e. Gods
can perform the act of contemplation (166)
i. God’s
cannot perform temperate actions (166)
ii. Or
be just in their business dealings (166)
iii. The
only thing left is contemplation (166)
7. (i)
Something that lacks the ability to contemplate cannot be happy
a. Animals
cannot be happy in the same sense that people can achieve happiness (166)
b. Animals
lack a high level of cognitive ability (166)
8. A
life dedicated to contemplating theory is different than a life that is dedicated to
statesmanship (170)
a. Statesmanship
is an activity that could be seen as similar to contemplation. (169)
b. Statesmanship
is an activity done for the sake of something else (169)
c. Statesmanship
requires external sources of power (169)
Reading your outline really helped me understand the argument and how you came to the conclusion. I was confused however when I reached premises 6 I became confused as to how you connect a-e to the overall premise. If you could explain it that would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteThe outline is well written, but there are a few points you may want to address. For instance, you may want to define “intellectual life.” Also, in premise three you make the claim that happiness results from virtue, however, you do not specify which kind of virtue. Does it consist of virtue of character, which is defined by the means or/both intellectual virtue, which involves thinking that turns out otherwise? I also agree with Ali that there is some confusion as to how a-e supports premise six. Lastly, premise 7a makes an interesting claim. How are the two similar? (169)
ReplyDeleteThis outline is very well-done and definitely gave me a better grasp on this topic. It's good that you pointed out the relation to reason in premise 4i, because intellectual virtue is all about reason. One thing you could have discussed is what the intellectual life is not, because that is where I get most confused (distinguishing between what is and isn't). Also, it could strengthen your outline if you explicitly explained what virtues of character are evident in relationships, and how they interact with one another. Your reference to statesmanship is well-noted but not exactly pertinent to your outline. This could help if you needed to shorten your outline to make it more clear and straight forward to the point. In premise 6, it should be highlighted that a Philosopher actually studies virtue, so as non-philosophers, they in turn define what a philosopher is. Overall this outline was well organized and covered the main topics necessary to properly explain this conclusion, good job!
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