Happiness

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” (Aristotle)

    While doing some research for a birthday present I came across this quote a few days ago. Unless I generally do not see me as a philosophical or pensive person, I sometimes do like to reflect on several things. Especially when I feel lightly exhausted by the stress of exams and other obligatory stuff I need to do for the university, I start reflecting about my aims in life and other things which cross my way.

    Thus, I tripped over this quote from Aristotle about happiness, a word open to a huge field of interpretation like the meaning of life. Or do those two things are accompanied by one another? This is exactly what Aristotle delivers us with his quote. In addition, Aristotle regards happiness as a central purpose of human life being the goal itself. Furthermore, who would not agree that happiness is all we need? However, it is easy to realize that most of the people desire money or a high reputation believing that these goods will make them happy. All other goods are a means that help them obtaining happiness, although happiness can always be seen as an end in itself.  Apart from that, I do fully agree with Aristotle’s understanding of happiness. Especially due to the fact that Aristotle does not see happiness as something that can be gained or lost in a few hours, but as something greater, something that refers to your whole life you have lived including all the activities you have done.

    So what teaches us this quote for our own lives?

In my opinion it means that every person that shows his good moral character throughout his whole life can achieve happiness. A good moral character represents an active state that leads you through health, friends, knowledge, etc. to the ultimate goal in life – the happiness itself.