The Future

We looked at ideal happiness as being self supporting. A god wouldn't need to show justice or appear virtuous since he would always live in perfection and truth. Those are are human traits associated with living on the earth. But since we cannot deny our humanity, we have needs associated with living on the earth. Human happiness is also tied to necessities such as needs and accomplishments using virtue. These require interaction with other people. A just person gets satisfaction from making things equal with others and a liberal person is happy giving to others.

Since we want to reach beyond ourselves, our contemplation is primary to happiness but we also have human needs that are secondary. This is called our composite nature. We have a draw toward the divine contemplative nature with reasoning that wants to know truth. But it is also necessary to have desires fulfilled and needs met to our satisfaction and in a proper manner. As all of these areas are satisfied we become happy. This requires will and action. Is one better than the other? Is it worse to do something compulsive that is mostly passion with little will involved or to always do what is right and yet wish for something else? There is no good answer but we can conclude the ideal is that our actions have our will behind them when we are dealing with the human side of happiness.

Contemplative reason is best and actions based on careful thought to engage our will are the ones that secure our happy lives. But this isn't a common practice in a normal society. The only alternative to living a virtuous life by choice is to live in misery. It is possible to delude ones self and accept a lot in life that is less than ones potential. We use laws and self discipline to help each other stay the course. Pain is the teacher that steps in when reason is absent.

This human side can be given to excess and a life focused on excess can end up miserable. The reality is that to exercise virtue a person doesn't need much. A person who gives out of what little one has is as virtuous if not more than one who gives out of an abundance. This works with honor and integrity. It is interesting to observe the outrage at dishonest politicians by dishonest people. To be honest is to be truthful and integrity works to correct wrongdoings. Everyone deals with this to different degrees depending on what habits they have formed. That is why ethics is an important study; if from youth good habits are formed it is easier to do what is right. It is never too late to improve and change habits. Some things cannot be undone but there is always a future where we can do better.

























 

Self Support for Happiness

Happiness, we have concluded isn't all about amusements. It is a pleasure all its own. There is almost a seriousness about it since it contains the area where decisions are made and contentment lies. Chasing pleasures ends when the objective is reached in most cases. Things outside of mere objects and temporary pleasures are the truths that stay with us; they are lasting on their own merit. To be satisfied, we need an ability to grasp truth and live with it. This occurs in our contemplative self.

When we point to the good, it is related to the best application of something. Morally good is according to a perceived moral code. Being right is a different matter. It is based in our ability to sort out truth. Truth is what we arrive at when our reasoning faculties are operating at their best. When someone is confused, they are alluding to their inability to see the best route to take. Anxiety is a result. Guilt is a result of having the inability to reconcile a moral matter. Confusion is what comes from losing a grasp on truth. Both are miserable states to be in.

Things in life aren't static but changes occur constantly. No decision is permanent but we should own them. There is no better feeling than coming clean by telling the truth. And being truthful with ourselves is no different. Part of being a free human being is having the ability to make choices and that is something to celebrate. These choices can seem ominous but all have good points and bad. When we talk about what is right, it pertains to the best application of numerous areas of our lives. Greater goods exist and we should choose them, but that doesn't make everything else bad.

The reason for philosophy is to sharpen our ability to see truth. There is no other objective beyond it. All other pleasures depend on certain objects; music has instruments, hearing and our desires for it. Those who constantly seek entertainment become dependent on others to keep them happy. But philosophy applies to everything and finding pleasure in truth applies to every area of our lives. Being right is the best application of the human mind and of course we should be humble enough to admit that we all need work. Gathering information, gaining understanding and sharpening our skills shouldn't be neglected. Self supporting happiness is the kind that lasts.

The Best Skill

What do you say when someone asks how you are doing? It depends on the person you are talking to. We would tell those we party with that we're having fun, those we work with that things are going smooth and those we are dependent on that we are being obedient. But to a person we are close to, we will say what comes out of our contemplative nature. It is in that area that happiness is found. That is why there is such a draw between those who have similarities in the soul arena. We say that it is nice to find someone who thinks the same way.
Some would like to say that happiness is a disposition. But that would make us static like a plant. It would mean that it is due to fate and we are helpless. Thankfully happiness belongs to the activity realm. As we said before, it isn't based in amusement although having fun contributes to happiness. Happiness is an activity of the contemplative part of our being. We mistake amusement for happiness but what amuses some people doesn't always bring happiness. A cruel ruler or an immature child might amuse themselves with things that aren't good. We have to conclude that the things a good person would do for amusement would also be the things that preserve happiness. And the things that relate to the disposition of the individual also come into play, talents and interests can have their fullest expression when turmoil from vice is avoided. This gives us the greatest pleasure which contributes to our happiness. But notice that without virtue, our accomplishments and outside pleasures control us, which leads to a miserable life, especially when the pleasure they give fades away such is the case with wealth or old age.
So when we discuss virtue, we are talking about excellence; the best application of the particular passion or talent. If we want to excel, what is common to everyone is in the ethical part of our being. It doesn't matter what our particular interests are, it is what that we think about when we lay our heads down at night that brings us the most joy. And through out the day if we think about what is good, our countenance changes. This is the area everyone should focus on to create a good environment inside themselves and when they interact with others.
To be wise is something that doesn't have to depend on outside sources. Wisdom keeps our hearts serene and removes anxiety. That is why it should be everyone's goal to acquire it. It is exercised in our inner being and should be kept in shape by our contemplation. Practical wisdom, that which has a goal, such as how to operate equipment or make a piece of art, are dependent upon the outcome. But philosophical wisdom, that which is according to truths in our inner being, isn't dependent on what happens externally. We should, with all our being, work on having peace within, resolving the conflicts of our soul so that we can be happy. Let external things be the dessert while our inner thoughts become what sustains us. This is much harder than it looks but to have this area mastered is more important than any other skill we can acquire.

Contemplation

There are two types of activities; the things we have to do and the the the things we want to do. It comes down to needs and wants. There are always things we need to do and to ignore them would be negligent. But it is much more fun doing the things we want. When we are spending too much time on a need, we say that a person is a slave to it. Slavery is synonymous with misery. A life constantly under someone else's direction isn't a life at all. As we have learned earlier, actions that involve our own will and passions are the best ones. All of this is governed by standards of virtue, the best application of our talents while showing good character.
Freedom is necessary for a person to pursue happiness. This goes for a society too. The flaw with collectivism is that the entire society is based on needs and necessities. The pursuit of dreams and successes are directed by a governing body rather than the individual. No one wants to be a slave to their nation. Governing is best limited to law and order. Victories that come out of a string of miserable failures are the sweetest. Those who step in and meddle with this, give themselves credit while taking away the sense of accomplishment for others. But this has to do with activities of  virtue and using our talents.
It is interesting that Aristotle doesn't think that vacations are a means to happiness. Things we do to get a little pleasure out of life are considered necessities. When we work hard, we need to rest; entertainment and travel are a means to get away from it all and rest. Happiness is something we want in and of itself. Things we do with another goal in mind are incomplete. The things we do to amuse ourselves, give us a break from life. This is good and necessary at times but happiness isn't a break. A break is associated with getting away from stressful activity. The part of us that wants to be happy reaches beyond activities. It has the nature of something divine. We are happiest living as though life will never end. It is based in an area of our life that is continuous; the contemplative self.

An Actual Goal or a Vague Notion

Keep in mind that we are using an ideal in these studies; how the perfect person would act. We look at what would be a perfect and good life. It is interesting how we have ideal standards within us that we all look to for advise. The same way that virtues are practiced by good people, pleasures also have proper applications to our lives. Good pleasures correspond to activities that are good for our lives.  We consider those activities that take away happiness, bad. We have concluded that virtues, friendships and pleasures all come in different varieties but at the same time they all have ideal applications that are best for our lives. The best life seems to end with the ultimate goal; Happiness.

It is hard sometimes getting an English word to describe a concept. I am not a Greek scholar but I realize that words from other languages can lose their deep meaning through interpretation. The word "Happiness" is one of those words. The English word doesn't capture the full meaning. There is a god like good quality to the word with the Greeks and a particular goodness of character toward actions on the earth too. It is a combination of goodness, joy and satisfaction. Pleasures exist to steer us toward happiness when they are used properly.

Virtue, we have concluded, is the best function of our passions and intentions. Happiness is the best application of human existence toward life. I like what Aristotle says later in this book; the only reason a god would even bother to make a human is to see them be happy. It is the best and proper function of a soul. Happiness is what we want in our children's lives and those we love. This happiness isn't based in having needs and ambitions met, although they are important. Everything ends up settling into the contemplative part of our lives; the place we pause and enjoy living for life itself; the ultimate pleasure. That's the area where peace and contentment are found. We study this subject out so we can steer ourselves and our culture to pursue happiness in a way that has an actual destination rather than a vague notion. A happiness that allows us to accomplish things and fulfill our needs while being settled in our souls.