Aristotelianism: Happiness and Virtue in Human Life
Aristotelian Naturalism and Happiness
Aristotelian naturalism views the human being as a part of nature, understood through the same intellectual categories, particularly the teleological model. This means understanding things in terms of their purpose or end goal.
Aristotle’s Concept of Telos
Aristotle believed that all beings have a specific function (ergon). Excellence or virtue (arete) lies in performing that function well. In animate beings, this excellence isn’t immediate. There’s an internal force driving them to develop their potential, to reach perfection. In humans, reaching this end depends on their freedom.
The Unique Human Function: Reason
To determine human happiness, we must identify the unique function of human beings, the activity that differentiates us from other beings. Human activity is complex, encompassing many functions. Some are shared with other natural beings, others with inanimate objects. However, the specifically human activity, our unique function, is reason.
A proper human life is one guided by reason. This doesn’t exclude other goods and purposes, but it places reason at the forefront. Happiness, for Aristotle, encompassed all intrinsically valuable goods and activities. It’s not a mere collection, but a hierarchical structure with reason guiding the way.
Contemplative Life and Virtue
The contemplative life can be understood in two ways:
- As a balance between the various functions humans are capable of.
- As an activity primarily guided by contemplation.
Acquiring constant modes of operation (habits), which are the virtues, is crucial. These aren’t innate but are acquired through practice. Virtue, in Aristotle’s view, doesn’t belong solely to the realm of reason (logos) but also involves passion (pathos) and habit (ethos).
Two Kinds of Virtues
We must distinguish two kinds of virtues:
- Dianoetic Virtues: These operate on the rational part of the human being, on their practical or ethical reasoning.
- Ethical Virtues: These operate on the irrational part (pathos), guiding passions and desires rationally.
Aristotle’s conception of the human soul focuses on its irrational part, where habits shape passions. Virtue represents a balance between two equally detrimental extremes. It creates harmony and well-being (mental and spiritual). Achieving this requires curbing tendencies towards extremes – finding the “golden mean”.
Key Points on Virtue
- Virtue comes from habit; it’s not innate but requires effort. Habit begets habit (ethos), and a person is expressed through their actions (praxis).
- Virtue requires continued exercise. It is the strength or ability to seek good. The inner attitude is the most important aspect.
- Habit involves voluntary and free deliberation and choice. Knowing what is good isn’t enough to practice it, and knowing evil isn’t enough to avoid it.
- Virtue is a “golden mean,” but it’s not the same for everyone. Aristotle defines virtue as “a disposition to choose what is a mean relative to us.”
- Not all actions or passions have a mean.
- Happiness is attained through virtue and is its culmination. It requires certain conditions: maturity, external goods, personal freedom, health, etc. However, these conditions alone are not sufficient for happiness.