Contemplation And Happiness

Happiness is an important issue in the ancient Greek ethics. Different philosophers have different understanding about the specific meaning of happiness. In their opinions, happiness is not people’s subjective feeling but the whole state over people’s life and the ultimate goal of people’s life. This view is shared throughout the development of the ancient Greek happiness theory. On the basis of the previous philosophers, especially Socrates and Plato, Aristotle established his own system of happiness, and became the representative figure of ancient Greek happiness theory.This thesis consists of five parts to study Aristotle’s happiness thought. Chapter1mainly introduces the current research situation of Aristotle’s happiness thought.Chapter2discusses the happiness theory of ancient Greek,which refers to objetcive happiness to be measured by objective standards. Happiness contains moral good and involves people’s whole life.These thoughts are the theoretical premise to correctly understand Aristotle’s happiness thought. And the chapter mainly introduces Socrates and Plato’s happiness outlook. He inherits the predecessors’point that views happiness as a kind of life state, equates happiness with the highest good and regards happiness as the ultimate goal of life.Chapter3analyses the meaning of Aristotle’s happiness theory. His argument on the happiness starts from the function argument. Aristotle thinks that every thing has itself function and the function of human being is the rational activity of the human soul. On the basis of the function argument, he defines happiness as the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. Happiness does not lie in the possession of virtue, but in virtue activities.On the basis of the function argument, Aristotle divides happiness into two ratings: the contemplative life is the first happiness, and life in accordance with the other kinds of virtue is the second happiness, which is the controversial part of the Aristotle’s ethical thought. Scholars haven’t reached consensus about whether contemplative life is composite life or pure contemplation.Chapter4analyzes the reasons why Aristotle divides happiness into two ratings and why he views contemplation as the first happiness. Interpreting reasonably rating happiness outlook lies in the distinctions between practical life and contemplative life, and the distinctions between contemplative activity and contemplative life. For Aristotle, the contemplative life includes contemplative activities as its main part. And pure contemplative life only belongs to God. Aristotle thinks that contemplation is the primary happiness refering to contemplative activities. Contemplative activities pursue eternal and unchanging truth and are independent of external good while external good can disrupt its purity. The second happiness is dependent on external good, and it is about human being’s affairs. Therefore, in this sense, contemplation is the first happiness while practical wisdom and life in accordance with other kinds of virtue is the second happiness. The core of chapter4discusses the reasons why Aristotle regardes contemplation as the first happiness. It is mainly lying in the characteristics of contemplation. Because it is the most resembled part of human beings to God as well as the most perfect part. Aristotle’s emphasis on contemplation originates from the influence of tradition of ancient Greek philosophy seeking ration, his teleology theory and idea that theoretical wisdom is better than practical wisdom.Last part mainly talks about the author’s reflection on the idea that contemplation is the first happiness. Aristotle points out people should pursue contemplative happiness while pursuing practical happiness. Although the former happiness is hard to reach owing to the limitations of people, it is the realization of the nature and ture value of human beings. Aristotle’s rating happiness outlook also initiates our reflection on how to choose between realizing one’s own value and conducting moral activities.Aristotle’s system of happiness is of great significance to our happiness ethics research. During the period of social transformation, studying his rating happiness outlook is important for us to establish the right and positive outlook on happiness, strengthen ideological and moral construction and improve the cultural quality.