Aristotle And Happiness: The Classic Philosopher's Theory

Medically reviewed by Arianna Williams, LPC, CCTP

Updated November 4, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Often referred to as “The First Teacher” or simply, “The Philosopher”, Aristotle’s theories and teachings have remained influential in nearly every aspect of human knowledge from ethics to biology. Born in 384 B.C., Aristotle spent 20 years as both a student and teacher under the wing of the era’s most famous philosopher, Plato.

Though Aristotle’s beliefs and theories were developed hundreds of years ago, their roots in basic human instinct and emotion – especially his theories on happiness – have resulted in their continued relevance, even in our modern age.

A brief history of Aristotle

Born in the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, Aristotle was the son of the royal doctor. His first momentous task was the tutoring of Alexander the Great, who went on to successfully conquer the known world.

Following this, Aristotle traveled to Athens to work with famed philosopher, Plato. Though Aristotle was arguably the most famous student of Plato, he was equally well known for his rejection of a number of Plato’s ideals.

While Aristotle agreed with Plato’s understanding of ethical virtues such as justice and courage as complex emotional and social skills, he rejected Plato’s idea that virtuosity could only be achieved through formal education.

This led to the development of Aristotle's own theory of happiness, or The Nicomachean Ethics, which was named for Aristotle's son and the book’s editor, Nicomachus.

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Exploring Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”

The book Nicomachean Ethics was written for the purpose of exploring one ultimate question: “What makes people happy?” Aristotle set out to identify which factors tend to lead to a happy, successful life, as well as the factors that lead to the opposite.

The theory of Nicomachean Ethics hinged on the presence of four profound and complex cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and courage. Aristotle believed that the key to happiness is found through the constant practice of virtuosity. In other words, the philosopher identified a strong connection between good and moral character and genuine happiness.

Where Plato believed that virtuosity could only be achieved through practical education and higher knowledge, Aristotle believed that the true key was practicing virtuosity for the purpose of being good, rather than merely knowing good.

“Nicomachean Ethics”: Virtue through experience

The complexity of Aristotle’s theory comes down to his implication that there is no set of rules to follow in the pursuit of happiness, morality, and character. The Nicomachean Ethics emphasize the need to learn virtue through experience, with every individual taking a different path.

Four main points of true happiness

While no strict set laws could be created, Aristotle defined true happiness or “Eudaimonia” using four main points:

Happiness (or flourishing or living well) is a complete and sufficient good. This implies:

That it is desired for itself.
That it is not desired for the sake of anything else.
That it satisfies all desire and has no evil mixed in with it.
That it is stable.

To put it simply, Aristotle believed that happiness could not be achieved through excessive wealth, material possessions or over-indulgence in vices. Simultaneously, Aristotle understood that poverty created an inadequate environment for flourishing. For this reason, Aristotle determined that happiness, or “moral goodness exists in a middle state, which is an intermediate between two vices: excess and deficiency.”

Applying “Nicomachean Ethics”

Though Aristotle’s theory of happiness and the Nicomachean Ethics can be complex topics to explore, their application in everyday life is fairly simple. Take pleasure in doing the right thing. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Many people hold on to beliefs that doing things with the purpose of acquiring wealth, honor, or bodily pleasure equates to doing what is right. According to Aristotle, this is not the case, as the purpose of seeking wealth is to attain something else, the pursuit of honor is fueled by what others think, and the satisfaction of bodily pleasure is not sufficient in particular to human beings, due to the fact that unlike animals, we are capable of reason.

The reason that doing the right thing will lead to overall happiness

In short, Aristotle believed that deriving happiness from the act of doing the right or moral thing is the highest form of good, and thus, will lead to overall happiness. Still, he emphasized the necessity of working on yourself everyday. While the process never truly ends, you will become self-actualized on the way.

Benefits of online therapy in helping finding pleasure

While the practice and application of many of Aristotle’s ideals remain relevant in psychology today, finding true happiness is a deeply personal experience that cannot truly be defined by anyone other than the individual. If you are struggling to find your path to happiness, online therapy may be able to help.

Effectiveness of online therapy

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According to research, the recent uptick in strong digital mental health intervention has been shown to have significant and meaningful positive effects on the well-being of participants. Furthermore, online therapy is proven to be equally as effective as in-person therapy when it comes to the reduction of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other common mental health conditions.

Takeaway

Though Aristotle existed hundreds of years ago, his theories and teachings can still be practiced and applied today. The process of learning and understanding your own sense of moral good and character can ultimately set you on a path toward happiness through flourishing and living well, if you so choose.

Frequently asked questions

How do we achieve happiness, according to Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”?

Aristotle’s ethics described a theory of happiness known as eudaimonia. In the modern English language, eudaimonia is roughly translated as “a fulfilling life.” Aristotle believed that happiness did not come from accumulating status or wealth; materialism is incompatible with eudaimonia. He thought eudaimonia was an internal state of mind that was independent of the feelings produced by pleasurable experiences.

Aristotle believed that happiness could be maximized by living in accordance with one’s virtues, fulfilling one’s potential, and engaging with the community. He theorized that, since humans are more advanced than other animals, simple pleasures that make animals happy, like sex or eating, would be insufficient to ensure consistent human happiness. He believed that true happiness derived from a person achieving their highest potential and establishing rich social relationships within their community.

What views of happiness does Aristotle reject and why?

Aristotle’s theory of happiness, eudaimonia, is often compared to another prominent approach to happiness established in Greek philosophy, hedonia. While eudaimonia is happiness that comes from achieving potential and establishing strong social connections, hedonia - the practice of which is called hedonism - refers to happiness that comes from pleasurable activities. Hedonists believe the path to happiness could be found by maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.

Aristotle rejected hedonism’s principles, believing they did not incorporate fulfilling one’s potential. He asserted that a human being needs to sustain constructive activities and set goals to be happy, which requires people to critically examine their moral virtues, feelings, and behavior. Once a person understands their personal virtues, they are able to set goals that align with those virtues. According to Aristotle, living in accordance with one’s virtues is how eudaimonia is achieved.

Why is happiness the ultimate goal, according to Aristotle?

Aristotle professed a form of happiness he called eudaimonia, roughly translated as a “life well lived” or a “fulfilling life.” It is distinct from such emotions like elation or joy that come from pleasurable experiences, called hedonia. According to Aristotle, a person can attain happiness by examining their virtues and, according to him, applying a “good and noble performance” of those virtues.

Aristotle may view happiness as the ultimate goal because his version, eudaimonia, requires people to pursue their potential, engage in their community, and behave virtuously. Therefore, Aristotle likely considers happiness to be the highest achievement a person can obtain. It requires continuous self-improvement and growth, which enables the flourishing that Aristotle speaks of when discussing happiness.

What is the reason why Aristotle thought education was necessary for human happiness?

Aristotle believed that human happiness derived from the consistent pursuit of a virtuous lifestyle. He discussed the necessity of critically examining one’s own virtue ethics and setting goals that align with them. Aristotle saw education as critical to achieving happiness in human life, a means to learn what separates virtuous actions from unvirtuous ones, as well as a way to learn how to think critically. In his view, education allows a person to obtain their highest standard of virtue and develop goals aligned with their beliefs by teaching them how to identify intellectual virtues and critically examine them.

How does Aristotle connect virtue and happiness?

Aristotle spoke of a type of happiness called eudaimonia. Eudaimonia refers to happiness that comes from living a life in accordance with one’s own virtues. It is distinct from other types of happiness, like hedonia, which refers to happiness that comes from pleasurable experiences. Aristotle believed that to be happy, every person needed to critically examine their own virtues and develop goals that align with those virtues.

Aristotle believed that pursuing a virtuous life was the core component of achieving happiness, although other elements are necessary. For example, Aristotle believed that some things, like good health, were precursors to happiness. In contrast, things like wealth, fame, and honor were products of living a virtuous life and came after a person was already leading a happy life.

Why does Aristotle think humans pursue happiness for its own sake?

Aristotle believed that happiness consists of knowing one’s virtues and living a lifestyle in accordance with them. Pursuing happiness for any reason other than living virtuously is incompatible with Aristotle’s views. He did not consider happiness something that could be pursued directly, but rather that it arose as people dedicated themselves to their virtues and established goals aligned with those same principles.

Aristotle’s version of happiness is called eudaimonia, which is roughly translatable as “a life well lived” or a “fulfilling life.” Should a person live a fulfilling life for any other reason than to be fulfilled? Aristotle likely felt that chasing happiness directly, rather than pursuing and maximizing virtue, would lead to unhappiness rather than happiness.

Is happiness the most important purpose in life?

Aristotle argued that happiness was the ultimate goal of human existence, which he believed could be achieved by living a good life of good moral character. In his view, happiness represents pursuing a person’s full potential, continuous self-improvement, and meaningful social relationships. Aristotle considered happiness to align with flourishing, or operating at the highest potential a person can achieve.

Many will agree that Aristotle’s view of happiness represents life’s greatest purpose, but others will not. Ultimately, what constitutes the most important purpose in life will be decided individually. Every person has different criteria for what constitutes their virtues, and they may also consider other pursuits, like the accumulation of material wealth, to be more significant.

Is struggle essential to happiness?

Many people would agree that struggle is essential for happiness, but it may be more accurate to say that growth and resiliency are required for happiness. Becoming a happier person usually requires rational reflection and committing to a positive mindset. Developing a positive mindset often requires increasing self-esteem, learning to recover from adverse events, maintaining optimism, and developing mindfulness skills.

Achieving happiness will almost certainly take time, energy, and commitment. Some of the required tasks are challenging, and unforeseen pitfalls may threaten newly acquired feelings of happiness and satisfaction. Some parts of becoming happier may indeed be a struggle, but the struggle itself is often what allows a person to grow and flourish in less-than-ideal circumstances.