Virtues in Habituation

The main goal to a “happy life” is fulfillment. According to Aristotle’s logic, one becomes virtuous when they act out virtues. In the same context this must mean that one should be happy as a result of acting out actions that make one happy. This process would have to be repeated in a form of habituation in order to see any sort of change or stability in the particular outcome.

“Further, just as in the case of craft, the sources and means that develop each virtue also ruin it. For playing the harp makes both good and bad harpists, and it is analogous in the case of builders and all the rest; for building well makes good builders, building badly, bad ones.” In this instance, everyone forms habits from repetition, but it is inevitably our choice to form good habits or bad habits. Our decisions place us on the track of either direction. To be good at cooking, you have to repeatedly cook well and practice your craft.

In the aspect of dealing with other people, things can be trickier. It is mainly human nature for people to interact with those who best benefit them or their goals. Certain circumstances can alter one’s response to them. People are more likely to favor the mass majority in a stressful situation then they are to go out on a limb and decide to side with a minority. We also may have minor unjust biases that distort one’s perception of a person or situation.