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.