Thesis
Happiness in action and contemplation in Aristotle's Nicomachean ethics
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103616
Abstract
Aristotle presents happiness in the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) in a way that seems like he contradicts himself. In one place he says happiness consists in action (1.7). In another place he says happiness consists in contemplation alone (10.7). Yet in another he says that it consists in action with the acquisition of other goods (1.7 and 10.7-8). Two basic views have emerged in contemporary literature to explain this so-called inconsistency: an inclusivist view and an intellectualist view. Inclusivists hold that happiness consists in all intrinsic goods such as the virtues, friends, physical pleasures, honors, health, and so on and not just action and contemplation. Intellectualists hold that happiness consists in a single dominate good – contemplation – and does not contain action, at least not in the same degree as contemplation. This thesis argues for an inclusivist view in that action contributes as a constituent to contemplation supporting one another by recognizing the whole of the good in human function. This is consistent with Aristotle’s conception of happiness that consists of a human being activating its overall function of rationality in action that is attainable for a human being to realizing its best and highest function in contemplation. Action and contemplation are not two competing contradictory activities; rather action contributes as a constituent to contemplation in purposeful activity that is goal-directed in pursuit toward an end: happiness. Aristotle’s account of happiness includes action and contemplation and all the virtues in a complete life. Because the virtues can only be developed in a polis both the moral and intellectual virtues need to be developed in order for a human being to flourish. Therefore, action and contemplation support each other. The connection between action and contemplation and all the virtues as unifying human function for a completeness of human nature is a comprehensiveness account of happiness and what constitutes the good life
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Details
- Title
- Happiness in action and contemplation in Aristotle's Nicomachean ethics
- Creators
- Randy Michael Herring
- Contributors
- Matt Stichter (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525372801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis