From Temperance To Happiness

This paper,based on the books of Xenophon and analysis the conception of the temperance,trying to explore a cultivating road from temperance to happiness which on the basis of the relationship between body and soul.It is divided into four parts.The first part mainly discusses Xenophon’s understanding of the relationship between body and soul and its understanding of temperance.In Xenophon’s opinion,the human body has the characteristics of authenticity,difference,and order,and the soul is set into human body by the God,however there are conflictions between the good parts and bad parts of the soul.The union of the body and soul gives life to human,however the body will dies,but the soul is immortal.The body and the soul are closely connected,the soul is in the dominant position,commanding the body,the order between body and soul established on the confliction of good parts and bad parts of the soul.When the good part of the soul is evoked with wisdom and beauty,the soul will rationally know itself and the world,and will establish a well order which is the essence of temperance.The second part mainly discusses the significance of Xenophon’s view of the Gods,and reveals that the soul’s fear and follow of the highest wisdom and natural rational order is prerequisite for temperance.Xenophon thought that the Gods know everything in the world,has the highest and eternal wisdom of the world,to guide the world with no hesitation,to show the wisdom of the world in various ways,and as the supreme wise representative,the Gods arranged the order of the world.However the Gods lack of demand,showing the highest temperance,and the order of divine integrity has become the source of temperance.The soul has the character of knowing and imitating the highest wisdom and the natural rational order,and in the fear and follow of the highest wisdom and the natural rational order can evoke the good part of the soul,prompting the soul to regulate itself and establish the inner good order.The third part mainly discusses the path of temperance.In Xenophon’s view,in the relationship of body and soul,although the body is in command of the soul,but the importance of the body can’t be ignored,the body has a positive impact on the soul,so you can exercise the soul discipline the body,which is a specific path of moderation.In the specific discipline of the body,Xenophon believes that developing temperance of living habits should according to the natural order and physical order,and choose to facilitate physical coordination and healthy physical exercise according to their physical condition.In addition,we should restrain and exercise ourselves in the public etiquette education.The beautiful order of soul commands the body,and the healthy body promotes the order of the soul to be better,in the soul and the body’sinteraction,their temperance achieves a virtuous circle.The fourth part mainly discusses the purpose of temperance,revealing the path from temperance to happiness.Xenophon is not in favor of happiness based on external material,and he thought it’s brief and inauthentic.However the happiness which only on the basis of virtue,achieved from knowing and practicing good things,is authentic、lasting and worthy of praise.And "temperance" as an important virtue,after knowing and practicing good things,it will bring the physical and soul’s health,the acquisition of friendship and order of norms can make people harvest real happiness,achieve the pursuit of life from temperance to happiness.Through the analysis of Xenophon’s path from the temperance of physical and soul to happiness,the final foothold of this paper lies in the enlightenment of Xenophon’s thought of temperance,calling for the concern of contemporary education for temperance,exploring the importance of temperance education,and letting children focus on their own needs on the basis of concern their own physical and soul health to promote physical and soul health in different ways,to find the real happiness of life in the temperance of body and soul.