The word ethos is of Greek etymology and means behavior, action, activity. It is from this that the word ethics derives. Ethics is, therefore, the study of human behavior, actions, choices and values. But in our daily lives, we notice that there is a series of different “ethical” models that postulate, sometimes excluding, ways of life and action. What is the best kind of life (if there is one)? What is happiness? Is it better to be happy or do good or what is right?
Questions like these are asked at all times in human history. And since the classical antiquity of the Greeks, there were already many models of answers for them. One is provided by the philosopher Aristotle, famous for his Metaphysics. Let's dig a little deeper into what he has to tell us.
In your book “Ethics to Nicomachus”, Aristotle consecrated the so famous ethic of the middle ground. In the midst of a period of cultural effervescence, pleasure and study collide to dispute the place of better livelihood. However, the sobriety of our philosopher made him choose a path that condemns both extremes, being, therefore, the cause of excesses and vices.
The metric (measure) that uses the Stagirite (Aristotle was called that because he was born in Stagira) looked for the middle way between vices and virtues, in order to balance man's conduct with his material development and spiritual. Thus, understood that the specificity of man is that of being a rational animal, the happiness it could only relate to the full development of that capacity. Happiness is the state of mind to which man aspires and for that both material and spiritual goods are needed.
Aristotle inherits the concept of virtue or excellence of his predecessors, Socrates and Plato, for whom a man must be his own master, that is, have self-control (autarchy). It is the way of thinking that promotes man as master and master of his desires and not slaves to them. The good and virtuous man is one who combines intelligence and strength, who properly uses his wealth to perfect his intellect. It is not given to simple or innocent people, nor to brave but foolish people. Excellence is obtained through the repetition of behavior, that is, the habitual exercise of the character that is formed since childhood.
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According to Aristotle, the qualities of character can be arranged so that we identify the extremes and the right measure. For example, between cowardice and audacity is courage; between bellicosity and flattery is friendship; between indolence and greed is greed and so on. It is interesting to note the philosopher's conscience when elaborating the theory of the middle ground. According to him, whoever is unconscious of one of the extremes, will always accuse the other of addiction. For example, in politics, the liberal is called conservative and radical by those who are radical and conservative. That's because extremists don't see the middle ground.
Therefore, following the famous Greek motto “nothing too much”, Aristotle formulates the ethics of virtue based on the search for happiness, but human happiness, made up of material goods, riches that help the man to develop and not become stingy, as well as spiritual goods such as action (politics) and contemplation (philosophy and metaphysics).
By João Francisco P. Cabral
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Philosophy from the Federal University of Uberlândia - UFU
Master's student in Philosophy at the State University of Campinas - UNICAMP
Philosophy - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
CABRAL, João Francisco Pereira. "The conception of happiness in the Aristotelian Ethics."; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/filosofia/a-concepcao-felicidade-na-Etica-aristotelica.htm. Accessed on June 29, 2021.
