NATURAL LAWNATURAL LAW

ARISTOTLE AND ARISTOTLE AND HAPPINESSHAPPINESS

Who was Aristotle?Who was Aristotle? Born in 384 BC in Stagyra, Born in 384 BC in Stagyra,

Macedonia.Macedonia. Son of a wealthy court Son of a wealthy court

physician.physician. Studied in Plato’s Academy Studied in Plato’s Academy

for nearly 20 years.for nearly 20 years. In 343 became tutor to the In 343 became tutor to the

young Alexander the young Alexander the Great.Great.

In 335 founded his own In 335 founded his own school in Athens.school in Athens.

Died in Chalcis in 322 aged Died in Chalcis in 322 aged 62.62.

EUDAIMONIAEUDAIMONIA

Aristotle believed that Aristotle believed that eudaimoniaeudaimonia, or , or happiness, is the fundamental goal of life:happiness, is the fundamental goal of life:

It is the only thing that people pursue for its It is the only thing that people pursue for its own sake.own sake.

It is the goal that lies beneath and holds It is the goal that lies beneath and holds together every other goal.together every other goal.

It makes life worthwhile.It makes life worthwhile.

What exactly did Aristotle mean by What exactly did Aristotle mean by eudaimonia?eudaimonia?

A situation in which a person both:A situation in which a person both:

a. lives well anda. lives well and

b. behaves well.b. behaves well.

* Eudaimonia is not a selfish * Eudaimonia is not a selfish searching for personal happiness – it searching for personal happiness – it includes the idea of virtue.includes the idea of virtue.

Therefore, for Therefore, for Aristotle, happiness Aristotle, happiness is not simply the is not simply the same as pleasure. same as pleasure. He claims there are He claims there are three types of life.three types of life.

He shows contempt He shows contempt for a, recognises for a, recognises the need for b, but the need for b, but says c is the most says c is the most important:important:

a. a life of a. a life of gratificationgratification

b. a life of b. a life of politicspolitics

c. a life of c. a life of studystudy..

“ “ The many, the most vulgar, The many, the most vulgar, seemingly conceive the good and seemingly conceive the good and happiness as pleasure, and hence happiness as pleasure, and hence they also like the life of gratification. they also like the life of gratification. Here they appear completely slavish, Here they appear completely slavish, since the life they decide on is a life since the life they decide on is a life for grazing animalsfor grazing animals.”.”

DO VIRTUE AND HAPPINESS DO VIRTUE AND HAPPINESS ALWAYS GO TOGETHER?ALWAYS GO TOGETHER?

Aristotle’s idea of happiness is Aristotle’s idea of happiness is potentially achievable, not some potentially achievable, not some impossible ideal.impossible ideal.

He disagrees with Plato’s view that He disagrees with Plato’s view that the Form of the Good is something the Form of the Good is something eternal, of which individual good eternal, of which individual good things here are mere copies.things here are mere copies.

To Aristotle, goodness here on earth To Aristotle, goodness here on earth is the real thing, not a pale imitation.is the real thing, not a pale imitation.

REASONREASON

Aristotle divided the human into 3 distinct Aristotle divided the human into 3 distinct parts:parts:

a.a.Material substance, Material substance, i.e. skin, bone, blood.i.e. skin, bone, blood.

b.b.FormForm or or soulsoul = gives shape, purpose and = gives shape, purpose and direction to our life.direction to our life.

c.c.ReasonReason, the supreme human virtue., the supreme human virtue.

REASON IS NEEDED TO BE FULLY HUMAN.REASON IS NEEDED TO BE FULLY HUMAN.

What exactly did Aristotle mean by What exactly did Aristotle mean by reason?reason?

a. the faculty of thinking logically, anda. the faculty of thinking logically, and

b. a moral sense.b. a moral sense.

This means it is not enough just to This means it is not enough just to knowknow what is reasonable, you also have to act on what is reasonable, you also have to act on it.it.

This is why reason is related closely to This is why reason is related closely to eudaimonia, the ultimate goal of humans.eudaimonia, the ultimate goal of humans.

People can use People can use reason to work out reason to work out their chosen their chosen purpose or purpose or telostelos. .

The ability to think The ability to think about actions and about actions and match them up match them up with a chosen telos with a chosen telos is called is called phronesis phronesis (prudence).(prudence).

For Aristotle, the For Aristotle, the ideal human telos =ideal human telos =

a. rationala. rational

b. balancedb. balanced

c. independentc. independent

d. good company.d. good company.

The ultimate telos The ultimate telos is is eudaimoniaeudaimonia – to – to live well and behave live well and behave in a way that shows in a way that shows rationality.rationality.

THE MEANTHE MEAN

Aristotle’s idea that doing right Aristotle’s idea that doing right involves a balance between involves a balance between extremes.extremes.

A possible implication of this is that A possible implication of this is that emotions and actions are morally emotions and actions are morally neutral in themselves: it is only an neutral in themselves: it is only an extreme form of them which counts extreme form of them which counts as a vice.as a vice.

This idea has been This idea has been criticised, for example by criticised, for example by Alisdair MacIntyreAlisdair MacIntyre. Surely . Surely there are some emotions, there are some emotions, e.g. malice, and actions, e.g. malice, and actions, e.g. murder, which are e.g. murder, which are inherently evil.inherently evil.

Aristotle does actually take Aristotle does actually take this into account, saying this into account, saying that some actions and that some actions and emotions are inherently emotions are inherently bad.bad.

Aristotle does not take into Aristotle does not take into account the circumstances account the circumstances in which an action is in which an action is performed or emotion performed or emotion experienced. experienced.

Aristotle’s ideas Aristotle’s ideas about eudaimonia about eudaimonia and reason are and reason are important because important because they influenced the they influenced the philosophy of philosophy of Thomas Aquinas.Thomas Aquinas.

Aquinas is the Aquinas is the philosopher most philosopher most associated with associated with Natural Law.Natural Law.