Post #1- Aristotle

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who lived from 384-322 BCE and was a student of Plato. He was one of the greatest philosophers that lived and wrote about physics, government, ethics, biology, and poetry to name a few. He started his own school in Lyceum and his writings have been passed down through a line of his followers, often called peripatetics. He usually taught two classes a day, one in the morning for his followers and one in the evening for the general knowledge-seekers of his time. Aristotle believed that ethics was a person’s attempt to find their ‘highest good.’ He explained that our aspirations have to have a final point, which is called happiness. Aristotle said that happiness must come from human nature that can be worked for throughout a lifetime. Happiness can only be achieved by humans because they are able to control their moral virtue through control of their irrational desires. Aristotle explained that having pleasure in your life is not the same as having a good life. A good life can be achieved by a fine balance in life of excess and deficiency. He explained that this balance is different for every person and every situation, therefore, is not the mathematical medium of these two factors. Aristotle also claims that politics is the verification of ethics. Aristotle explained that a city was an institute of moral ideals set-up to protect the goods and property of its people. These cities were therefore ideal for the advancing the development of humans. He believed that education should be regulated by the city and formal education should begin at the age of seven.

My family and friends bring me happiness in this life. I considered today to be a great day because I convinced my sister to go to the Museum of Tolerance with me where we spent the whole morning. We then went to a barbeque and pool party with all of our friends. We spent the afternoon sharing stories, laughing, and dancing. Aristotle would consider all of these pleasures in my life which I’ve achieved on a very basic moral level. I don’t think I’ve reached my ‘highest good’ in my life, but I plan on reaching it within the next five years. I think I’ll be happy when I am working as a Nurse Practitioner in a foreign country which does not have a good healthcare program set up. I will find joy and happiness in helping others in such a hands-on way because I will see daily the influence I am having on peoples’ lives. I plan on having children with a husband who will have similar priorities and morals as me. We will travel around, going where ever our help is needed and teaching our children about the different cultures.

Aristotle would not claim that I have reached my ‘highest good’ or my highest moral standing. I am definitely living for the pleasure in my life right now and I am focused on my self. I do love myself and Aristotle claims that this self-love is the highest law of morals. He says that it is selfishness but one must love thy self in order to live the most pleasant, most self-sufficient and productive life with a distinct purpose. I do believe that Aristotle would be proud of me for having such great friends since he believes that friends are indispensable. He argues that friendships help define our higher moral life in many aspects of our lives. Aristotle does explain that these friends can not be the result of convenience or just pleasure but must have a higher moral value. A true friend is someone who is similar to you and you can look at their lives and have a greater appreciation of life. I have a great friend who lives in England and whenever I talk to her, I feel like I haven’t done anything with my life. I feel like I need to volunteer as much as she does and give back to my community. She is an amazing person who does not sit still for a second. She is an active bike rider and goes on canoe trips all the time and does not waste time watching trashy television shows. Aristotle would definitely call her a true friend since whenever I look at her life I feel like I need to do more and reach my ‘happiness.’