Aristotle's Claim To Happiness
What is virtue? According to the dictionary, it is described as “behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.” From this definition, it is generally acceptable to declare that we all would love to be called virtuous, even only regarding certain things. But who decides
what is and what is not virtuous? The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Protagoras, stated that the truth on one side must be balanced or weighed against the truth of the opposing side so as to gain knowledge about what is right and wrong. It has been seen and said for ages passed that there could be no objective truth and in this case moral values. It seems hard to believe there is, but in my opinion, what is moral or True is only human nature and our undying thirst to please ourselves and fulfill our own needs or wants. We must only believe in the moral value of our need to justify. Several cultures believed in slavery, from ancient Lacedaemon to Post-colonial America. They saw this as a means of fulfilling their desires. I believe satisfying human nature is the absolute moral value no matter the form you address it as. Although eras change and novel ideas come to light, they condition us to accept those newfound ideas as our nature and thus the argument about slavery/anti-slavery is only supported by the notion that individuals and cultures only abide to these values to delight themselves. In essence, whomever is able to direct and/or shape the nature of men and reveal to them that prior beliefs are ignorant and deplorable, he alone has the power to control morality. Our societies and cultures shape what we believe to be good, right and virtuous. Aristotle goes against these doctrines to identify certain aspects and outstanding elements that are absolute in regards to the pursuit of virtuous acts. They are fundamental, according to him, to the make-up of human-kind in this realm and the next. In his famous work, the Nichomachean Ethics, he holds that virtues are “those qualities that allow us to achieve a state of eudaimonia, or human flourishing.” He later goes on to distinguish between intellectual virtues and moral virtues. Intellectual virtues, he explains, enable us to think rationally, while moral virtues enable us to handle our emotions and desires rationally. It seems to suggest that virtue is very much related to rationality. 
On the search for the chief good of existence, Aristotle holds that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that which all things aim.” In this regards, he discloses that human endeavors should be aimed at attaining that “chief” good unless we are prone to a life of infinite quests and activity as we choose everything for the sake of something else which results in vanity and emptiness. A simple example would be surrendering to the passions of lust, hunger and even anger. It is virtuous to partake of these emotions and sentiments only if they are necessary for human flourishing and furthermore, beneficial to the community, society and human-kind, then and only then, can they be regarded as being virtuous. In order not to be subjected to a hollow and meaningless life, he declares happiness the greatest and chief of all good. But how do we attain happiness? Clearly it involves building a foundation with the virtuous deeds and thoughts through the interrelationship between the function of man and doing things well, that is, in accord to virtue. Happiness, which is synonymous to contentment or satisfaction is closely tied to the fulfillment one begets from excellence and chasing that which brings a sense of competence in a job well done (virtue). Using this mode of thinking, the practice and exercising of virtues is progressive and favorable as a whole towards the individual life, the general public and ultimately, attaining happiness. “For the state of mind may exist without producing any good result, as in a man who is asleep or in some other way quite inactive, but the activity cannot; for one who has the activity will of necessity be acting, and acting well.” This statement goes to show that not only in physical actions but more importantly, happiness depends on a restructuring of the mind in which no immediate harm can be done but a stable foundation, independent of the passions and transitory nature of circumstances. 
They seek a temporary elation without first making a conscious decision to remain adhered to efforts needed to be secure in the contentment and satisfaction of hard work and other virtues. Furthermore, they are regarded as irrational (due to our earlier connection of virtue to rationality) and thus, are as changeable as an infants diaper. Being easily swayed by external factors, there is no sense of rest or peace for these ones; their attachment to the pleasures and desires bring them suffering and pain forever chasing the next good like a dog and his tail. Without attachment to anythin
g within this realm, we are free from upset and suffering (which are defined as antonyms to happiness). In closing, the practice of non-virtue, no matter how innocent, ultimately leads to sadness and destruction. A life of non-fulfillment should never be wished upon anyone.
Olujimi Oyenekan.
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