Aristotle and Epicurus: Achieving Happiness and Moral Prudence

Aristotle: Happiness and the Role of Prudence

Aristotle posits that happiness is the ultimate goal of human nature—what we all desire. To achieve this, we must frame our desires and aspirations through Prudence. Prudence allows us to choose what best suits our lives, balancing the present with the future. It is not reckless to consider both; rather, it is the application of moral wisdom to specific cases.

The Middle Term and Practical Wisdom

Prudence determines what is appropriate for everyone. To be truly prudent, one must cultivate specific capacities:

• Memory: Recalling the past to improve our present life.
• Instruction: Studying and learning to discern what is right.
• Circumspection: Considering all possibilities and circumstances before making a decision.
• Foresight: The capacity to foresee the future to make more reasonable choices.

Making Life Choices

Qualities are developed, not innate. When making significant life choices, consider:

• Profession: Evaluate all possibilities and long-term potential.
• Relationships: Choose friends and partners based on common ideals.
• Leisure: Use rest to enrich your personality.
• Religion: Treat it as a personal conviction rather than a family or social obligation.

Hedonism: Epicurus and the Pursuit of Pleasure

Epicurus argued that all beings seek pleasure and flee from pain. Happiness is organized by maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain using reason as a moral calculator. While originally individualistic, this tradition evolved into a social philosophy, emphasizing sympathy and collective well-being.

Calculating Pleasure

Epicurus advocated for stable pleasures that result in no bodily pain, such as joy. Later philosophers expanded on this:

• Jeremy Bentham: Proposed that pleasures can be measured quantitatively.
• John Stuart Mill: Argued that pleasures differ in quality, suggesting that those who have experienced both higher and lower pleasures are best equipped to judge their superiority.

Happiness vs. Pleasure

It is essential to distinguish between the two: Pleasure is the attainment of satisfaction, while Happiness is self-realization—the successful execution of one's life projects, which may sometimes require sacrificing immediate pleasures.

Happiness and Well-being

A person may possess material welfare—money, health, and protection—yet remain unhappy due to psychological barriers:

• Fear of boredom: Leading to destructive behaviors like substance abuse or violence.
• Excessive competitiveness: Prioritizing economic success over relationships.
• Stress: Caused by indecision and overwhelming concerns.
• Guilt: Dwelling on past mistakes.
• Persecutory mania: The belief that others are against us.
• Fear of social judgment: Worrying excessively about what others think.