Conflicting Views of Happiness

Conflicting Views of Happiness

In the section on conflicting views of happiness, Aristotle argues that most people associate happiness with pleasure, which is why they focus on living a life of enjoyment. However, people with active disposition and superior refinement are happy when they receive honor (Ostwald 498). According to Aristotle, people pursue honor to assure themselves of their merit and distinguish themselves from others. He concludes this section by arguing that wealth is not a measure of happiness because it is used to achieve something else by stating, “Wealth is clearly not the good that we are seeking, for it is merely useful as a means to something else” (Ostwald 498). He supports this argument by suggesting that wealth is not an intrinsic good but can be viewed as a chief good.

The most appropriate example to support Aristotle’s argument that most people associate happiness with pleasure and focus on enjoyment is evident in how some wealthy people in society post photos and videos with captions suggesting that they would not be enjoying life if they were not wealthy. The pursuit of honor to get an assurance of merit is evident among politicians who vie for various positions of power to acquire a title in society and gain respect from society members. The argument that wealth is a means to something else is evident in the observation that wealthy people have more access to opportunities. For example, wealthy people may use their wealth to bribe officials to get a position of power or a business opportunity. The use of wealth as a means to get something is also evident in the justice system, where wealthy people bribe judges and law enforcement officers to get away with crime.

Works Cited

Ostwald, Martin T. “Conflicting Views of Happiness.” Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, 1986, p. 498.

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Read the required sections from Chapter 1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.
Choose one or two sections of the chapter that seem significant to you.

Conflicting Views of Happiness

Please identify the sections you’ve chosen by number. Then, write two paragraphs.
In your first paragraph, summarize Aristotle’s argument in these sections.
In your second paragraph, identify some specific examples from contemporary life that support or refute Aristotle’s claims. You may use examples from your own experience or observations, or you may invent hypothetical examples.

Please write your response in two paragraphs.