Who Is The Best Thing - 1977 Words

If happiness is activity in accordance with virtue, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest virtue; and this will be that of the best thing in us.† (Aristotle, 633) Aristotle focuses on happiness, not just any kind of happiness but everlasting happiness, the true gold mean. Being in the golden mean means you want to do the right thing and your always doing your best at everything. Once you truly find everlasting happiness, the golden mean helps you become a better person, you’re always striving to be happy and you make others become better by being around them. â€Å"Virtue, then, is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean relative to us, this being determined by rational principle.† (Aristotle,†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"But not every action nor every passion admits of a mean; for some have names that already imply badness, e.g., spite, shamelessness, envy and in the case of actions adultery, theft and murde r.† (Aristotle, 629) In the case of adultery, there is always one person that is in the wrong which would then not make you the perfect person. â€Å"Nor does goodness or badness with regard to such things depend on committing adultery with the right woman, at the right time, and in the right way, but simply to do any of them is to go wrong.† (Aristotle, 629) When trying the reach the golden means/virtue, which motivates you to become great; you try and become the perfect person. When trying to become the perfect person, you focus on making every aspect of yourself great. You’re always doing the right thing, you’re helping others on the way of becoming perfect and you get the chance of achieving everlasting happiness. Genuine happiness lies in action that leads to virtue, since this alone provides true value and not just amusement. In order to become the perfect person, you must allow yourself to be open with many different ideas. One way on the step to becoming the perfect person is having a strong friendship. The rule of relationships with other humans is a vital element in the key of having a good life. â€Å"For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.† (Aristotle) Aristotle talks about three different