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Grace Spellacy
Professor Lauren Nuckols
Philosophy 103
01 October 2015

When I chose to write a paper on human happiness, I stared at a blank word document for
a long time. How does a 20 year old college student know anything about what it means to be
happy? Ive only spent a short amount of time on this earth and Ive never truly thought about
this question. So, I started to ask my roommates what they think happiness is and unfortunately I
didnt get any worthy responses. One of my roommates smiled and said happiness is this
smoothie, and the other said its different for everyone. So, there I was still staring at a blank
word document as I thought about when I am happiest.
As I thought about happiness, I realized that for the past few years happiness to me has
meant yoga, sleeping, tailgating, eating pizza, watching football and most importantly, hanging
out with friends. In other words, happiness in my college years has simply meant having a good
time. More recently, Ive realized that having fun no longer makes me as happy as it did
freshman year. I still love going out, and I still go to almost every football game, but once the
weekend is over, I find that I am no longer happy. Especially this year, Ive realized that I live
for the weekend and I dread the school week. I feel like its an endless cycle of waiting for the
weekend to be happy. So maybe happiness is defined by more than having a good time after a
long week of schoolwork. Thankfully, Aristotle was a lifelong philosopher who thought about
happiness daily and his argument on happiness holds a lot of truth.
Aristotle argues that happiness is a lifelong journey that requires the development of
virtues and the help of true friends. Aristotle discusses that happiness not a feeling or a moment

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in time, but a way of living life that involves everyday choices and becoming a virtuous person
(26). A virtuous person strikes the mean between two extremes of bad qualities (31). Aristotle
uses courage as an example of a mean between cowardice and recklessness (31). He explains that
courage is a virtue and the more that we exercise courage, the easier it will become to be
courageous, which will be a step towards happiness (33). There are other virtues that have a
mean as well. Such as discipline, humor, honesty and other good qualities. Both the extremes of
these virtues are considered bad qualities, but striking the mean is virtuous (31). Aristotle thinks
that exercising these virtues will make you a better person and help you reach happiness.
Another vital belief that Aristotle argues is the idea that happiness is not a moment or
feeling, but a lifelong journey (26). Furthermore, he describes that some think happiness is
pleasure, while others think it is honor, but happiness is neither of these things (24). He says that
those who seek happiness in pleasure lead the life of a cow (24). In other words, they only
experience lifes simple pleasures and no true happiness. Others seek honor and popularity,
which Aristotle describes as a superficial and selfish (24). In ending this argument, Aristotle says
One swallow does not make a summer; neither does one fine day. And one day, or indeed any
brief period of felicity, does not make a man entirely and perfectly happy (26). This line further
describes that temporary moments of pleasure or popularity do not make a person happy.
Lastly, Aristotle believes that friendship is vital for someone to achieve happiness. He
says that For without friends no one would choose to live which strengthens his argument
that friends are necessary for human happiness (Nicomachean Ethics 1). Aristotle argues that true
friends should have mutual love and respect for each other and therefore make each other better
people (Nicomachean Ethics 3). Therefore, true friendship is necessary to becoming virtuous
and happy.

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After reading Moral Virtue and Aristotles beliefs on friendship, I began to think about
happiness in a different way. I think up until recently, I thought that happiness was pleasure.
Aristotle compares living life for pleasure as the life of a cow, but I truly believe that a lot of
young people, myself and friends included, are very focused on pleasure (24). I think its easy to
get sucked into the belief that alcohol, sex and having a good time will make you happy.
Especially after a tough week of school work, most students want to relax and have fun with
their friends, but many confuse this as happiness, and therefore are not truly happy once these
moments pass.
Happiness in honor is also a common thought among young people. Social media
especially has brainwashed young people into thinking that instant gratification and hundreds of
friends are necessary to be happy. In todays society, a lot of people post pictures of themselves
having fun on social media in want of acceptance and a feeling of popularity. Although I think
deep down people know that happiness does not come from popularity on social media or from
having fun, the college lifestyle makes it seem like partying and football is all we need to be
happy. Fortunately, as Ive grown up a little bit since freshmen year and read Aristotles thoughts,
Ive realized pleasure and honor are not happiness. Just as Aristotle describes, one moment
cannot make you entirely happy (26).
That being said, I agree with the connection between virtue and happiness. I think there
are many aspects of living a happy life, and most of them involve becoming the best person you
can be. As we discussed in class, doing things such as going to class instead of sleeping may not
be fun, but we do it in chase of a greater good, which is happiness. I find that when I go to the
gym, take a risk, or do well on a tough exam, I feel accomplished. In the long run, I think these
types of activities contribute more towards happiness than pleasure and honor do. Developing

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and exercising core virtues, like honesty, patience and kindness will ultimately make you a better
person, and therefore happy.
I also agree that friendship is necessary to be a happy person. There have been countless
times that my friends have encouraged me in difficult times as well as told me when I have done
something hurtful or wrong. I truly do not think someone could be the best version of themselves
without being a friend, or having friends. In other words, one needs to know how to love others
as well as be loved in order to thrive.
I agree with Aristotle on his points on happiness and virtue. Happiness cannot be defined
as a temporary feeling or moment because it is a lifelong goal. Overall, I think that many college
students think happiness is pleasure and honor, but will eventually learn what true happiness is. I
have started to realize that happiness is directly related to exercising virtues and becoming the
best version of yourself. Lastly, true friends are vital in achieving true happiness and becoming a
virtuous person because they teach you how to love and be loved.

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Works Cited

Aristotle, Moral Virtue: 23-45. Web. 01 October 2015


Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: 1-15. Web. 01 October 2015

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