Page 17 - GALIET OF BEAUTIFUL UNOIA AND EUDAIMONIA: ARISTOTLE IV

inevitably leads to the rejection and frustration of another. Secondly, he claims that the virtuous person is one who finds pleasure in naturally pleasant things. All virtuous beings, therefore, take pleasure only in doing the right actions or things, and hence are willing to suffer sorrow and pain to reach the right end. Aristotle also adds that this type of life is dedicated to the pursuit of honor and prestige and depends on other people’s recognition of our virtues, which can lead by much exertion and much suffering into great misfortune. Moreover, because happiness requires full actualization of one’s potential, virtue cannot be happiness. Thirdly, a life devoted to securing wealth cannot bring enduring happiness for money is purely a means to achieve an end, its acquisition is arduous ad often painful, sometimes it leads to the vice of greed. It is also temporary and superficial: a sort of seesaw. When we have money, we are “up” or happy, when we don’t, we are “down” or miserable. Some people’s moods also fluctuate with the rise and fall of the stock market. Furthermore, a life of wealth cannot be happiness for happiness is the most final of ends and not a means to a further end.
Of the four contending views, Aristotle says, the life of philosophical contemplation is the most sublime because not
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