Aristotle
There has been a great debate over the highest human good and whether happiness is the highest good. Philosophers have said that the highest good is happiness. Others have said that it is piety. Aristotle insists that all human beings desire to be happy and the highest good is happiness. But what is happiness? If I am smiling does that mean I'm happy? If someone wants to be lonely is that mean to be lonely can be happiness? For instance, an old man decided natural death because he doesn't want to impose burden to his children such as hospital bills. Does he choose natural death because of happiness? Aristotle's contention that happiness is the highest good is incorrect because there are more things, which are valuable than happiness. I do not believe only that all human beings desire to be happy, but also happiness has to be had pleasure. I am going to develop by my point of view with questionings. Aristotle says that good and happiness consist in pleasure, and consequently people are content with a life of mere enjoyment. I disagree with that, as there are so many people who abandon their pleasure and pleasurable things in life such as enjoyment. A monk gives up for a life of sol
Many people may think they desire to be happy as others do, and happiness is the highest good. However, they will realize that they are wrong when they think deeply. A monk and a priest believe that piety and faith are more valuable than happiness and the volunteers, who help the old people and the handicapped people do not desire to be happy. Therefore, I do not agree with Aristotle's contention that all human beings desire to be happy and the highest good is happiness. I just want to add that to regard the desire to be happy itself as important is not always right and the way to be happy is more important. Take for instance, a person is addicted to drug. He believes that to keep taking the drug will make him happy. However, the choice for happiness is not right morally and legally. Is the life itself called, 'happy life'? There is no such a standard of good. How good is too good? It is hard to answer this simple question. Therefore, the intention and the progress to achieve the highest human good are also very important. Is the highest good happiness? In my opinion, there are many different goods such as value of life and individual goal that can be higher than happiness. For instance, nursing home volunteers devote their time to help old people or handicapped people. But are they sacrificing their time to be happy for themselves? I do not think they do that for happiness. They may under
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Approximate Word count = 955
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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