Happiness as an end: a critique of Aristotle’s rational eudaemonism
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
This paper examines Aristotle’s concept of happiness as encapsulated in his
Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle argues that happiness is the supreme practical good
because it is perfect, final, self-sufficing and complete in itself. For him, happiness
is simply defined as rational eudaemonism (an activity of the soul according to reason
in contrast with mere sensual pleasure). In view of the foregoing, this paper
raises the question of whether happiness is actually an end as Aristotle posits.
What is happiness and how can we find it? Our objective is to critically evaluate
Aristotle’s position on the questions raised here and to see whether we can
develop a new moral thesis that can truly reflect our existential realities. Although
Aristotle’s position gives us a moral leap and is quite commendable in its ethicoepistemological
profundity, this paper, however, maintains that happiness is an
elusive concept. It argues that if at all anything termed happiness exists in this
world, it might only be transient, ephemeral and illusory and cannot be seen as an
end in the physical absolute terms when viewed from the standpoint of Plato’s
metaphysical dualism. The paper also argues that Aristotle did not say enough
about what we are supposed to do to attain happiness. He gives detailed
descriptions of many of the virtues, moral and intellectual, but with a persistent 'air
of indeterminacy'. The paper concludes that moral virtues are a necessary
component, but not a sufficient condition for happiness.
Description
Peer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso journal, Volume 10 Number 1, p.51-62, November 2018.
Keywords
Happiness, rationality, Aristotle
Citation
Ezedike, E.U., 2018. Happiness as an end: a critique of Aristotle’s rational eudaemonism. Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(1), pp.51-62.