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Comparing Aristotle's The Gay Science And Nicomachean Ethics

1867 Words8 Pages

What is considered living well? Is it living your life continuously happy? Is it living your life morally right? Is it both? There are many definitions and examples on how to live well in both Friedrich Nietzsche's book The Gay Science and Aristotle's book Nicomachean Ethics. Even though their two definitions have similarities and differences, Nietzsche's explanation of living well is stronger in my opinion.
Living well for the philosophers are approached differently. Aristotle philosophy on living well is overly positive and assumes all men are noble. Nietzsche philosophy on living well to me is more realistic. Nietzsche assumption that we are ubermensch is more agreeable to me because I believe that we are perfectly imperfect. Ultimately, I believe Nietzsche's meaning of living well is stronger to me because Nietzsche's approach is more modern and realistic compared to Aristotle's overly positive and arguably outdated approach, which was published in 350BC. …show more content…

Ultimately, living well means being happy. For Aristotle, in any case, happiness is a objective that includes the totality of one's life. Aristotle states, "For as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy (Aristotle, Book I)." The great life is not an end express that we are continually making progress toward, yet rather a method for living that comprises of periodically virtuous activities. It is not something that can be picked up or lost in a couple of hours, as pleasurable sensations. Pleasure is not coincidental to the great life; it is the sentiment fulfillment we have when living well. Living well is more similar to a definitive estimation of your life as lived up to this minute, measuring how well you have satisfied your maximum capacity as an

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Aristotle’s Golden Mean and Romeo and Juliet How does one define a successful life? For centuries civilization has pondered the concept of a perfect life. Aristotle believed that in order to have a happy and prosperous life one had to walk the narrow path of the median between two extremes. In The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare alludes to Aristotle’s Golden Mean philosophy in order to point out his characters’ tragic flaws and emphasize the necessity of a balanced life. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who is best known for his writings, ethics and logic.

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What is living well? Is it hard to achieve it? Why do people still struggle to have a life well lived? Living well is always a great desire of human beings. Depending on the understanding of people in the society, they have their own way to define it.

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Analysis Of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

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Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics begins by exploring ‘the good’. Book I argues that, unlike other goods, “happiness appears to be something complete and self-sufficient, and is, therefore, the end of actions” (10:1097b20-21). In other words, happiness is the ultimate good. But how does one achieve happiness? Aristotle formulates this in the context of work, since for all things, from artists to horses, “the good and the doing it well seem to be in the work” (10:1097b27-28).

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The life of Frederick: Aristotle vs. Stoicism In theory we all strive to have the same form of life that Frederick had. A nice house, car, and a family. The strive for excellence is a key trait in what makes us human. We want to be good at everything and according to Aristotle's views on what true happiness you must have three characteristics that would classify you as excellence:Physical, Intellectual, and Moral.

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Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Argument

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Thus, when human function is done well, it is in accordance with virtue and best human life is achieved. In addition, it can be inferred that since Aristotle’s definition of happiness is to be virtuous, performing rational activity well can lead to happiness. In addition, Aristotle states, “if there are more than one virtue, in accordance with the best and most complete” (1098a18). This means that eventually there will be one virtue that is inclusive of all virtue and that displays an end, and this virtue will be in line with the self-sufficient and inclusive concept of happiness as the chief good. If this inclusive virtue and good is achieved, ultimate happiness will be achieved as well.

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The First Book Of Nicomachean Ethics By Aristotle

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Aristotle makes that clear when he uses the example of the archer: “Shall we not, like archers who have a mark to aim at, be more likely to hit upon what is right? If so, we must try, in outline at least, to determine what it is, and of which of the sciences or capacities it is the object” (NE, 1094a25). For this reason, Aristotle made the Nicomachean Ethics to not only be a book of theory, but a guide on how to live a good life for both the individual and the community (NE, 1094b7). To do so, Aristotle believed that to be happy was to be of good, moral character. One can only be a good, moral character if he acts in accordance with virtue and must work towards processing them all (NE, 1098a10).

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