Good Example Of Essay On The Relationship Between Rationality, Virtue And Happiness According To Aristotle.

According to Aristotle, there exists interrelationship among rationality, virtue, and happiness;

Hence, one cannot exist without another. Aristotle gives a general definition of happiness as the
goals or destiny that encompasses the entire life of human beings. On the other hand he
describes rationality as what a person struggle or strive to achieve, additionally, he also defines
virtue as being morally upright and as a bridge between the extreme ends of inadequacy and excess.
Aristotle argues that happiness relies much on the platform of virtue, however; sometimes he describes virtue as more of individualistic compared to social virtue of Confucians. In addition,
he explains that virtue can only be achieved by balancing the two excess, as well as keeping
stability of the mean, where mean is a way of attaining virtue. However, Aristotle tries to bring
out the relationship between happiness and virtue and further connect it to rationality. He tries to inform us that major factor in the achievement of happiness is only to have good moral behavior, as well as the complete virtue. For instance becoming virtuous is not a lifeless state hence he argues that one must act in relation to possessing all virtues or achieves a state of complete virtue in order to be happy.
Intellectual contemplation being a very important way of attaining happiness since the aim of all human beings is to attain or truly live a happy life. However, our nature as human beings is to be rational, where the greatest perfection of human nature is to be more rational reflected. Hence, it only means acquiring the desire for knowledge explains the human born nature that starts from childhood but seems to be depleted as the growth and development occur in the human being. Unfortunately, human beings fall under the animal kingdom but the only difference is human beings have the ability to act in accordance to the principles and making appropriate decisions and choices in life. For instance, the right for humans is not right for other animals; therefore, it is as a result of the difference in the rationality level. Hence, from his argument pleasure only cannot complete human happiness, as animals need only pleasure, and human beings have the higher capability of reasoning to compare animals.
However, Aristotle gives further illustration of the relationship between rationality, virtue and happiness using an example from human beings in that; the ultimate goal of human beings is to live a certain a way of life, this activity entails a rational principle, and the duty of upright human being is the excellent and highborn performance as well as to ensure an act is properly done in accordance to excellence appropriateness, hence this enhances happiness which bring out the responsibility of the soul in relation to virtue.
It is not possible for a virtuous person to live a happy life when being deceived by close loved ones, this is because friendship is considered to be one of the most important virtues in the attaining the better goals of happiness. He considers relationship as more valuable and even exceeds justice and honor. Therefore, being loved is better than being honored and noteworthy, hence a virtuous friendship is the most enjoyable being it consist of pleasure, rational capability as well as complete virtue, thus meeting the fulfillment of a person’s emotions and intellectual natures. Hence; this leads to a person happy life which cannot be achieved by the end of one’s life.