Aristotle’s concept of happiness

For Aristotle, happiness wasn’t just a state or a feeling. For him happiness meant acting in a way that is guided by reason. If this activity is done continuously and in a way that is good, the activity becomes a virtue and part of our being (cf. Irwin pp. 22, 29, 33). This idea that whether we live a happy live or not depends on our own actions and how we judge these actions regarding our reasoning, seems to be a very positive outlook on achieving happiness. Because people often blame external factors like losing your dream job or not growing up rich as to why they cannot live happy lives now. Aristotele too says that external factors are important (or at least make it easier) to live a happy life (cf. Irwin p. 31). And yes, if you have faced hardships in your life, it is definitely harder to seek happiness in your everyday surroundings.

However, I think that, since we cannot change what has happened to us, we should focus on the things that we can change now. We cannot always live in this state of negativity because then we ultimately become prisoners of our own thoughts. We close our own door to happiness without realizing that this door has always been open for us. What I have learned from studying philosophy so far is that happiness is achieved through working towards that goal, being and feeling self-sufficient in the things that you do every day and always having in mind that if we can think of happiness, then it exists and it is definitely achievable.

#Week2