Aristotle
In describing ones attempt to achieve happiness Aristotle doesn't limit himself to one form of happiness. Aristotle describes three different forms of happiness one can achieve; one through political life, one through active life (sought through practicing virtue in the city) and one through philosophical happiness in relation to theoria ("A kind of life devoted entirely to the activity of the mind") (Hadot 78). The third form, philosophical, Aristotle argues supercedes the other two forms. He describes the two others as secondary forms of happiness, no comparison to the happiness found in "life according to the mind", which he explains as situated i
Aristotle defines "good" as that which everything aims (class notes). Aristotle claims that there must be some end since everything cannot be means to something else (class notes). In achieving something like happiness Aristotle seems to focus particularly on how reason, our rational capacity, should help us recognize and pursue what will lead to happiness and the good life. It's because of this hierarchy that more of his focus was on the primary form, but what he does agree on is that happiness is the greatest good. Aristotle makes the claim that for no reason, other then the goal itself being its own reward, can an individual seek and achieve true happiness. Aristotle also stresses that "life in accordance with the mind does not seek any result other than itself and therefore is loved for itself" (Hadot 79). Sometimes the end that people aim for is the activity they perform, and other times the end is something we attempt to achieve by means of that activity. Virtue is not happiness because a person may be virtuous and not use or apply it to their life. n mans highest excellence and virtue. Some people believe that happiness is achieved through wealth, honor, pleasure, or even virtue. Aristotle argues that wealth cannot constitute happiness because it is simply a monetary value that can be used only to gain happiness. Much like his diverse forms of happiness Aristotle has a diverse way of achieving happiness and believes happiness to be a combination of these four elements, a balance for any person. He does not limit 'everything' to just the human mind and draws on the soul, being part of his reasoning, as a part of the human body that which also plays a large role in pursuing true happiness and reaching a desirable end. Happiness is not directly experienced through pleasure.
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