Aristotle and Meaning of Happiness - Essay Example

Aristotle and Meaning of Happiness Happiness is the state which every human wants to achieve and peruse for. In general we all assume the meaning of happiness is to be satisfied with life and owning things which we love and want. The feeling of happiness comes when a person is contented. And contentment means owning whatever that person desires. Whereas according to Aristotle people often become happy when they do things which they like, but all what people desire are not real happiness. These things give temporary satisfaction which doesn’t last for long. If a person wants to gain real happiness then he should desire and aim for virtues in himself which eventually become real happiness of person and will last within person's soul till eternity. Values like sincerity, honesty, honor, morality, justice wisdom and courage are the qualities which enlighten the human and bring inner happiness with can never be taken away. (YUKSEL.ORG) HAPPINESS WITH VIRTUE AND VALUES VS WORLDLY AND SELF CREATED VALUES: For Aristotle happiness is what enlightens and satisfy soul. And happiness cannot be measured with worldly things like wealth, fame and social setup. From the virtues are the moral values of a person and they are real happiness for a person as they define and satisfy inner being of that person. And according to Aristotle real happiness can only be gained through virtue. He defined two types of virtues: moral and intellectual. Moral virtues are those which are explained and generated by feelings, choice and action. The feeling of care, honesty and justice etc. are the moral virtues which show the feeling and values of a person towards life and others. Where as intellectual virtues are those which are related to person's cognition like wisdom (W. Russ Payne) IN THE LIGHT OF BOOK “TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE” The book “Tuesday with Morries” writer by Mitch Albom is a memoir of the time the writer and his professor had together. It tells a heart touching story of a unique relation which a student redevelops with his teacher Morrie Schwartz who is fighting against a fatal disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). After 16 years of graduation, when Albom accidently see his professor in TV program Nightline while tripping channel he becomes totally shocked and stunned to know that his most favorite teacher is suffering from a terminal disease. This accident brings all the flashbacks to Albom’s mind and he recalls his pledge he did to his teacher on the last day to his graduation; which was to stay in touch with him but he wasn’t able to fulfill it. And how on the last day of graduation Albom gifted Morrie a briefcase, with which he expressed his deep feelings of departure and gifting him a gift because he doesn’t want his professor to forget him. And how his sir Morrie was equally emotional and he sees him crying when he turned away after meeting him. This was very painful for Albom to recall and felt guilty that in his busy life he overlooked and forgot his promise. And after coming to know that he is suffering from ALS and is on wheelchair he felt great remorse and regret for not staying in touch. Soon after this Albom’s starts visiting his teacher and realized that he has lots more to learn from his teacher. And just after coming to know about his teacher’s fatal condition, Albom who’s heart was full of agony immediately goes to meet his sir who even after a gap of 16 years recognize his students. This was not only painful for the student to see his teacher in such condition but a very emotional and nostalgic point in Morries life to see his student coming at his door after 16 years which brought all flashbacks of past. Albom starts visiting his teacher every Tuesdays and talked about life and knowledge. Albom and Morrie already had a very cordial father and son like relationship back in college but it took a new turn when after the lapse of sixteen year, Albom again started to visit him. MEETINGS AND INTELLECTUAL TALKS OF MORRIE: When Albom started to visit his teacher every Friday they used to have lots of long talk and intellectual discussions. Most of the discussions were abstract and ambiguous that made Albom to compile and collect them so that he can latter on write about in homage of his teacher. When he used to visit his teacher he used to listen his teacher very keenly and his teachers enriched him with lots of wisdom and life’s knowledge. These meetings made their relation so much stronger and expressive that in one place Morrie told Albom that if he ever had a choice to have a second son then he would like to see him as his son. Albom had always been so much attached to his teacher and now after such long time seeing him in such a condition was very painful for him. A man who knows that he is left with a very few days of life often end up saying things which shows their inner agony and fears of death and also make the loved ones very worried and it become miserable to see them in such state. For Albom who deep down had that remorse ingrained in his heart that he did not put effort before to keep a contact with his teacher and now seeing him in such state was very painful. And in many contexts Morrie said some ambiguous things which had both side of personal feelings and suffering and life’s wisdom and values as well. It was already very painful for Albom to watch his teacher in such a terrible condition. And in many conversations Morrie said things which were reflecting intense feelings of him. As at one place he said that now he is enjoying being a baby again, which Albom knew that it was just his way to cover his deep feelings that now he is dependent over others and cant walk and do things himself. Albom and Morrie had many conversational sessions in many of them, Albom with affection used sit holding his hand in love and respect. Morrie had many discussions about life and world, and Albom knew that Morrie wants his thoughts and stories to be shared with the world. At one place Morrie also told Albom that these conversations are their last thesis together. ESSENCE OF MORRIE’S THOUGHTS: Morrie in conversation to Albom talked about the importance of the inner peace and according to him inner peace is all about virtue and values over which a person builds up his life. He believed that the contemporary culture of today’s world is naïve in values and is not morally strong because it is based on worldly desires. Morrie stated the popular culture is a dictator under which everyone suffers and become victim of it, so instead of being a victim of popular culture one should set his own values over virtue of honesty, morality, trust and love. According to Morrie if one will only follow what is going around the world then he will not get true happiness and satisfaction. But after realizing what is right and what is wrong, and then choosing a path of true enlightenment will bring true happiness to the soul. These concepts of Morrie were very impactful over Albom and guided him to choose right path for happiness of inner self. The concept and thoughts of Morrie about inner happiness are the values which Aristotle also defined in same way. The words of Morrie were very deep specially related to life because he was seeing death near him and that’s why he was realizing the true meaning of life. He wanted his student Albom to understand life early so that he can lead a contented life ahead. Morrie always told Albom that life should be lived by loving and if it is not then it perishes. Aristotle also believed that there is no use of living a life which is without love and without love soul is in perish. The thing which both Aristotle and Morrie argued about was the importance of values and virtue in a person and how a life becomes useless and just worldly with no meaning, if the person is focused on worldly pleasures then finding the pleasure in little things around and making ourselves good human beings with moral values in ourselves. In a book Morrie at one place showed a wish that if he again becomes healthy then he would only desire to eat good food, have a time with friends and dance. This also shows his values which were so simple that he doesn’t desire to do any worldly thing before dying like meeting a celebrity etc. rather then he finds pleasure in little things. Morrie didn’t urge to get any worldly thing but even till his last days his pleasure for enjoyment was a good food and intellectual talks. From this we can clearly see and evaluate that the pattern of Morries lifestyle and thoughts was based on the principles of Aristotle and he wanted to achieve the spiritual contentment rather than worldly charm and satisfaction of few days. And leading a good life doesn’t mean having a materialistic living but to self-actualize oneself. Bibliography W. Russ Payne. Aristotle on Virtue. n.d. 12 April 2011 . YUKSEL.ORG. Happiness and Virtue as a Mean. n.d. 2011 April 2011 . Read More