Aristotle theory of happiness
1) Aristotle's theory of happiness states that happiness is the highest good. There are many items that are good, but goods pursued for their own sake are of a higher good than goods pursued for the sake of something else. The highest good cannot be improved by the addition of anything else. The highest good is desirable for itself, is not desirable for the sake of another good, and all other goods are desirable for its sake. Happiness is the only good pursued solely for itself, and is an end in itself. Honor is external, wealth is a means to further ends, and a pleasurable life does not equate to a "happy" life. Humans are unique to animals due to their ability to be rational. Humans that live with good reason are good humans. In order for something to be good requires virtue. Therefore, in order to live well we must use reason virtuously. There are two kinds o
Moral virtues are the mean between the two extremes (doctrine of the mean). Animals can never be criminals because they have no moral state of mind. Although we have obligations to animals, they do not have rights to these obligations. Although an animal may know things it may not do (taught by training), it cannot comprehend the proposition "it would be highly advantageous to act in such-and-such a way, but I may not because it would be wrong". Animals cannot bear rights because the concept of rights is essentially human- it has force within a human world. Therefore, animals have no rights and their rights cannot be violated. Acting virtuously attains moral virtues. The reason for this is because they cannot do wrong or right. The extremes, deficiency and excess, are considered vices while the mean is virtue. This is because animals are amoral and do not ever do wrong. One can act virtuously and not mean it, therefore it is not a virtuous act. With respect to anger, the vices are short-temperedness (excess) and insensibility (deficiency). When we give rights to animals, it makes no sense because the concept of rights is a human concept.
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