Eudaimonia According to Aristotle

As previously discussed in class, eudaimonia is simply the Greek word for 'happiness.' In book 10, chapters 6 through 9, of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, happiness and it's role in life is a common theme. It is discussed in terms of conditions, theoretical study, and virtues. The way Aristotle viewed the world, happiness was an essential part of life. Not only was it "the end," but also the key to leading a virtuous life (Nicomachean 163).

Chapters 7 and 8 deal with conditions for happiness, theoretical study, and virtue, all of which are interdependent on one another. For example, Aristotle defines complete happiness "in accord with its proper virtue," which is the activity of study (Nicomachean 163). For the activity of study is supreme and leads to knowledge and understanding. Aristotle believes that rational contemplation provides a sound basis for determining what is and is not virtuous and based on such contemplation and understanding, people achieve happiness. It is the people that achieve such a state that will, in turn, be the happiest. In other words, "the wise person, more than anyone else, will be happy" (Nicomachean 167).

Examining today's society, it is questionable whether or not knowledge and happiness go hand in hand. Sure, knowledge and education in the United States lead to a what we hope will be a successful and "good" lifestyle, but what about the knowledge of what is going on throughout the world? The knowledge of the disaster in Haiti and of their horrific infrastructure surely shows that each Hatian is not living a good, successful life. And if we are aware of such an issue shouldn't we help change that, not by simply donating money, but by educating the people of Haiti and giving them the help and resources they need to rebuild? Granted, Aristotle believes that external goods do not purely cause happiness, but he does say "...no one can be blessedly happy without external goods..." (Nicomachean 166). So shouldn't we, being the greater of two nations, help give Hatians the external goods needed to live good, successful lives?

On the other hand, however, one may argue that knowledge and happiness do go hand in hand in contemporary society. Knowledge can be defined as knowing the purpose or meaning of one's life and cultivating the world around him or her accordingly.

So which is it, Aristotle, knowledge within our own little world or knowledge of the entire world that eventually leads to the "end"?