HAPPINESS IS THE

ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF
HUMAN EXISTENCE
ROSEMARIE N. RAPADAS
ARISTOTLE, IN HIS NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, POSITS
THAT HAPPINESS IS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF
HUMAN LIFE. WHILE PEOPLE STRIVE FOR
PLEASURE, WEALTH, AND REPUTATION, THESE ARE
MERELY INSTRUMENTAL GOODS, LEADING TO THE
ULTIMATE GOOD OF HAPPINESS. TRUE HAPPINESS,
ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE, IS SELF-SUFFICIENT,
FINAL, AND DESIRABLE FOR ITS OWN SAKE, NOT
FOR WHAT IT CAN ACHIEVE. HE ARGUES THAT THE
PURSUIT OF OTHER GOODS STEMS FROM A BELIEF
THAT THEY WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN
HAPPINESS, SOLIDIFYING HAPPINESS AS THE
ULTIMATE END IN ITSELF.
THE GREEK WORD EUDAIMONIA, OFTEN
TRANSLATED AS "HAPPINESS," IS MISLEADING.
UNLIKE FLEETING FEELINGS OF JOY, EUDAIMONIA
REPRESENTS THE OVERALL FLOURISHING OF ONE'S
LIFE, ENCOMPASSING A LIFETIME OF LIVING UP TO
ONE'S FULL POTENTIAL AS A HUMAN BEING. IT'S
NOT SOMETHING GAINED OR LOST IN MOMENTS,
BUT A CULMINATION OF A LIFE WELL-LIVED.
THEREFORE, JUDGING WHETHER SOMEONE HAS
LIVED A HAPPY LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL THEIR
LIFE IS OVER; A SINGLE INSTANCE OF HAPPINESS,
LIKE A SWALLOW OR A FINE DAY, DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE A LIFE OF EUDAIMONIA.
 THE HIERARCHICAL VIEW OF NATURE
The image depicts Aristotle's hierarchical view of nature,
illustrating a stepwise progression from non-living beings (rocks)
to plants, animals, and finally, human beings. This hierarchy,
informed by Aristotle's biological studies, serves as the basis for
his explanation of human happiness. He argues that nature is
comprised of four distinct categories of beings, each with a
unique purpose, culminating in the highest form, humanity.
 ARISTOTLE'S HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF
BEINGS, PROGRESSING FROM INANIMATE MINERALS
(ROCKS, METALS) WHOSE ONLY GOAL IS REST, TO
VEGETATIVE LIFE (PLANTS) SEEKING NOURISHMENT
AND GROWTH, THEN TO ANIMALS PURSUING
PLEASURE AND REPRODUCTION, AND FINALLY TO
HUMANS, UNIQUELY DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR
CAPACITY FOR REASON AND MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY. HUMANS, UNLIKE ANIMALS, CAN
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS
BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND PRINCIPLES OF RIGHT
AND WRONG.
 HUMAN BEINGS, UNLIKE PLANTS OR
ANIMALS, POSSESS THE UNIQUE CAPACITY
FOR REASON. THIS RATIONAL CAPACITY
ALLOWS US TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, ACHIEVE
GOALS, AND LIVE QUALITATIVELY
DIFFERENT LIVES. THEREFORE, HUMAN
HAPPINESS IS NOT SIMPLY PLEASURE, AS IT
IS FOR ANIMALS, BUT RATHER THE
FULFILLMENT OF OUR RATIONAL NATURE.
THE GOAL IS NOT TO SUPPRESS OUR
PHYSICAL URGES BUT TO CHANNEL THEM IN
WAYS CONSISTENT WITH OUR RATIONAL
CAPABILITIES.
 THE PERSUIT OF HAPPINESS AS
THE EXERCISE OF VIRTUE
According to Aristotle, happiness is achieved
throughout life by pursuing goods like health, wealth,
knowledge, and friendship, which contribute to the
perfection and enrichment of human nature. This
requires making choices, some difficult, between
immediate pleasures and long-term benefits. Often,
the more virtuous path, though potentially painful
and requiring sacrifice, ultimately leads to greater
happiness. Developing strong character involves
consistently choosing the right action, even when it's
challenging.
ARISTOTLE CRITICIZES THE MODERN EMPHASIS ON
INSTANT GRATIFICATION, ARGUING THAT TRUE
HAPPINESS (VIRTUE) REQUIRES MAKING DIFFICULT
CHOICES FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM GOALS, NOT
FLEETING PLEASURES. HE NOTES THAT MOST
PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME THIS TENDENCY
TOWARDS IMMEDIATE SATISFACTION, A
WEAKNESS OF WILL HE TERMS AKRASIA.
ARISTOTLE SUGGESTS THAT CONSISTENT
EDUCATION AND THE PURSUIT OF VIRTUE ARE
CRUCIAL FOR OVERCOMING THIS WEAKNESS,
LIKENING THE PROCESS TO AN ARCHER
IMPROVING THEIR AIM THROUGH PRACTICE.
 ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE, HAPPINESS IS THE
ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, NOT
MERELY PLEASURE, BUT THE EXERCISE OF VIRTUE.
IT'S A LIFELONG GOAL, NOT A TEMPORARY STATE,
ACHIEVED THROUGH THE PERFECTION OF HUMAN
NATURE, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF
REASON. HAPPINESS ALSO DEPENDS ON DEVELOPING
A STRONG MORAL CHARACTER, EXHIBITING VIRTUES
LIKE COURAGE, GENEROSITY, AND JUSTICE—A
BALANCE BETWEEN EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY.
FINALLY, INTELLECTUAL CONTEMPLATION IS
ESSENTIAL FOR ULTIMATE HAPPINESS.
 THEORIES OF HAPPINESS
A. HEDONISTIC THEORIES
Hedonistic theories define happiness as a balance
of pleasure over pain. However, the text clarifies
that "hedonism" in philosophy differs from simple
notions of psychological happiness. Two distinct
types exist: ethical hedonism (a normative theory
advocating the pursuit of pleasure) and
psychological hedonism (a descriptive theory
claiming pleasure is the sole human motivation).
The difference lies in whether hedonism describes
what should be pursued or what actually is pursued.
LIFE-SATISFACTION AND DESIRE-SATISFACTION THEORIES
CONSTITUTE A SECOND CATEGORY OF HAPPINESS THEORIES,
DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH. LIFE-SATISFACTION THEORIES DEFINE
HAPPINESS AS THE FULFILLMENT OF CERTAIN CENTRAL LIFE
DESIRES, WHILE DESIRE-SATISFACTION THEORIES DEFINE IT AS
THE SATISFACTION OF STANDARDS OR GOALS. HOWEVER, THE
TEXT ARGUES THESE ARE STRUCTURALLY IDENTICAL, DIFFERING
ONLY IN PERSPECTIVE: ONE FOCUSES ON THE ACHIEVED END-
STATE (SATISFACTION OF A STANDARD), THE OTHER ON THE
EXTINGUISHED DESIRE (SATISFACTION OF THE STANDARD).
WHILE THE SATISFACTION OF CENTRAL DESIRES MAY LEAD TO
HAPPINESS, SIMILAR TO HOW PHYSICAL PLEASURE CREATES
POSITIVE AFFECT, THE SATISFACTION ITSELF ISN'T HAPPINESS.
EVEN IF DESIRE SATISFACTION CONSISTENTLY RESULTED IN
HAPPINESS, THE TWO REMAIN DISTINCT CONCEPTS.
THANK
YOU