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What I Learned About Happiness by Reading The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Happiness is a concept that has captivated the minds of people since antiquity. In The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle proposes an answer to this timeless question, arguing that happiness should be seen as an activity or being-at-work chosen for its own sake by a morally serious and virtuous person.
Through Aristotelian ethics, I have come to understand happiness as something that goes beyond mere pleasure and play; instead, it is based on the pursuit of virtue in one’s life.
The Nicomachean Ethics
In The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that happiness cannot be found in play and bodily pleasures because tyrants often choose such lifestyles. He compares tyrants to children, explaining that these activities should not be seen as ends in themselves but rather as a means to more serious living. While anyone can enjoy physical pleasures — even slaves — no one would want their lives to be characterized solely by such enjoyment. According to Aristotle, pleasure without virtue is shallow and ultimately unsatisfying.
Aristotle proposes the idea of eudaimonia — or “good soul” — as an ideal state of well being through which people can achieve perfect happiness. This involves cultivating virtue through living life in accordance with…
