Aristotle and the Golden Mean

 

"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence." It is a quotation of a known Greek philosopher, Aristotle. Do you know who Aristotle is? Well Aristotle is one of the big three of Greek philosophy. He was born at 382 BC in Stagira, Greece. At the age of 17 he joins Plato's academy in Athens. He is most interested in nature and anatomy. He died at 322 BC in Euboea, Greece. He made a significant and lasting contribution to nearly every aspect of human knowledge. Do you know that even many time passes through Aristotle's surviving writings were incredibly influential.

The philosophy of the Golden mean. Are you familiar with that philosophy of Aristotle? That particular philosophy of Aristotle is represented by one of his work called Nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics is an inquiry into the nature of the good life for a human being. According to Aristotle there is ultimate good toward all human actions ultimately aims, which is Happiness. Ethical Virtue is a habit disposed toward action by deliberate choice. Virtue is not simply as isolated action but a habit of acting as well. Those actions or habits and the happiness is our character, they're the one that our character is made of.

According to his work there several Virtues that ethical Virtue possesses. The virtues are Bravery, Temperance, Generosity, Munificence, Magnanimity, Honor, Good Temper, Friendliness, Truthfulness, Wit, and Justice. Those other virtue will helps us  to further understand our own character, and our nature.

I have learned that we need to overcome our own pride and arrogance, and look at our nature for guidance, guidance of what to do, in short guidance for the decision we've gonna make. We should accept our role in the world and appreciate the beauty of life and death. The balance that Aristotle discuss in his philosophy the Golden mean, must be recognized as beneficial and important, as it is in nature itself.