Good Example Of Aristotle: Happiness AND His View Of Virtue Essay

Life is a pain derived from the hopes and hopes emerged from our wishes. Hence curb the wishes to be happy. Aristotle reshaped this philosophy in the context of metaphysics. Aristotle believed that we live to achieve the natural true good. The naturally true good that he defines as doing the best for oneself to get the best for oneself. Thinking of all his works and views make one wonder how selfish it sounds ('Introduction to Philosophy'; Solomon).
What is happiness? In ordinary words, we can say that happiness is the state of being happy, a range of positive emotions that enlighten our heart and mind. Happiness is like air or water, and it is hard to grasp. It is intangible that cannot be measured in terms of any unit because it has no form and material wealth does not guarantee us happiness. The ultimate goal of human nature is to seek happiness because it makes us feel good ('Aristotle': Nicomachean Ethics).
We relate happiness to the attainment of a good or a set of goods, which can be in the form of health, wealth, fame, virtues, love and so forth. When we attain that specific good, we experience fleeting pleasure before we move on and try to find another thing that might sooth our restless soul. According to Aristotle, certain goods are necessary preconditions for a happy life but the central ingredient of happiness is a virtue that need a good moral character and refers to “complete virtue”. It means that being virtuous is not a passive state; it is constant development in which one must act in accordance to our virtues. Virtue has many forms such as justice, bravery, prudence, generosity and understanding and so forth. We must strive to possess all virtues (‘Aristotle’; 'Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics).
There are many common wishes that come to mind when talking about the naturally true good because there are many diversified ways for someone to do the best for themselves yet the same is not said for the others. “Happiness” as Aristotle claimed was the naturally true good because someone happy virtuously acted for the betterment of themselves and nothing more. Achieving the naturally true good of a man to Aristotle didn't mean being wealthy, strong, or smart. It meant what was the best you could give yourself without even thinking or giving to anyone else (Boger; Solomon).
According to his philosophy, riches will surely benefit one's life for the good. It seeks again either it is for greed to those that have it and to poor that seek it usually for the good. Many acts have good intentions and affect to be considered naturally true good, but it has to be as natural as we are on this earth. Intelligence seems promising to some people because it comes to mind with many possible acts that can bring good to oneself. But for Aristotle and his theory, the true good must benefit only that one person having knowledge about a lot of actions that can easily be ruled as not being the true good (Boger; Solomon).
A dedicated politician would have first in his mind the wellbeing of his community by preserving and prospering. No matter the professional intelligence though valuable for evolution and it is as natural as it may seem but it must confine to the theory. Like intelligence politicians being virtuous in their decisions, must often require sacrifice rather than benefit. This leaves the option that a virtuous person more likely is capable of reaching the naturally true good.
Aristotle states that someone who is virtuous or has a quality that are of virtue but the capability of achieving the true good still may not be able. For instance, some professions require good morals or display skills of virtue, so may the person act simply showing or displaying means one is not really virtue (Boger; Solomon).
Aristotle was strongly critical of "instant gratification" which presently is the trend of our society. We can never achieve happiness by enjoying the pleasure of the moment. In case of the weakness of will, we are completely overwhelmed by our situation that obscures our perception of what is truly good for us. Our upbringing, our education and the values given to us from early childhood play an important role in making us a strong and virtuous person. A virtuous person is never discontent with his misfortune. Instead, he can overlook his present state and find patience (Boger; Solomon).
In conclusion, Aristotle theorizes that the naturally true good is not achieved by being someone of significance or importance. In the context of virtues, Aristotle believed that a man or woman as long as they are morally virtuous can always achieve the naturally true good - the “Happiness”.

Work Cited

'Aristotle' Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.' N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/aristotl/>
'Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics E-Text | Introduction.' N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. <http://www.gradesaver.com/aristotles-ethics/e-text/introduction>
Boger, George. ‘Aristotle's Underlying Logic.' Handbook of the History of Logic 1 (2004): 101-246. Print.
Jolanta, 'Introduction to Philosophy'. 2014. Lecture.
Solomon, Robert C. Introducing Philosophy. 9th Ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.