Aristotle love a Virtuous Life

Introduction to Aristotle's Doctrine

Aristotle's doctrine about living well begins with a fundamental understanding of ends and means. Life's purpose is not simply acquiring material possessions, such as a car, as an end or goal. Instead, there is a more profound ultimate end, goal, or purpose for human life. As humans, each of us strives to develop a plan for living because this constitutes the purpose of life. Without a plan for living, we lack direction and understanding of our life's purpose, leading to confusion about the purpose of living. This doesn't imply that any plan will suffice; we need the right plan to achieve our ultimate goal.

Aristotle's Vision of a Virtuous Life

As far as I understand, Aristotle's ultimate end for human life is flourishing, or eudaimonia. This might mean living well and having a good life because everyone desires a happy life filled with care and fulfillment. I agree with Aristotle that the real goods we should seek to obtain in order to live well include bodily goods, external goods, and goods of the soul. Apparent goods may seem desirable because we want them, while real goods benefit us regardless of our desires.

Being healthy involves having health, vigor, and pleasure. Staying warm and healthy requires access to food, shelter, clothing, and sleep. Nurturing our souls involves seeking knowledge, love, and self-esteem. While bodily and external goods can be accumulated beyond necessity, as they are limited goods, goods of the soul are the most challenging to acquire because they are unlimited. We are not born with innate wisdom or knowledge of everything in the world; instead, we are born to learn and experience life, making goods of the soul limitless.

According to Aristotle, living well is the ultimate end for humans, yet some people still choose to live poorly. Making choices is one of life's most difficult aspects because sometimes the choices we make are wrong. However, making the effort to choose correctly is crucial for living well. Aristotle emphasized that making too many poor choices leads to a poor life. Therefore, moral virtues are essential for a good life, as they are habits that guide us in making choices that lead to a fulfilling life. Nonetheless, good habits and a virtuous life are not enough; good fortune also plays a significant role (Aristotle, 2011).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Aristotle's teachings provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the purpose of life and the means to achieve it. By focusing on real goods and cultivating moral virtues, we can strive towards a life of flourishing and fulfillment. This journey requires not only the right plan but also the wisdom to make informed choices and the grace of good fortune to truly live well (Smith, 2020).

References

• Aristotle. (2011). Nicomachean Ethics. (R. Crisp, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.
• Smith, J. (2020). The Philosophy of Aristotle: An Introduction. Routledge.