Answer: Aristotle – a Greek philosopher who lived 300 BC.

What can an ancient Greek who lived millennia ago tell us about life in the 21st century?

Robert J. Anderson, the philosopher, would beg to differ adding that, “there is no ancient thinker who can speak more directly to the concerns and anxieties of contemporary life” than Aristotle. So what can Aristotle tell us about our larger, faster and complex world, several worlds apart from the ancient Greece he inhabited in 300 BC with togas and chariots?

Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life of all human existence…

Aristotle is credited with making this BIG and BOLD statement. Many would suggest there is nothing new in this. If we were being philosophical about it, we would drill down into the words meaning and purpose and human existence.  Aristotle did just that and concludes that while human existence has many features – growth, reproduction, nourishment, sensory perception – these functions are not unique to us, we share them with other animals.

For Aristotle, the truly distinctive characteristic of human beings is our capacity to think and reason. Humans, he argues, think before, during, and after we carry out activities.  We have cognitive ability, the ability to reflect and make decisions. We do not simply live a life based on instinct.   

This has many important implications for our life’s meaning and purpose.

Purpose of our thinking?

For Aristotle the most important consequence is that the purpose and meaning of our human existence is to discover and do what is good.  This alone can satisfy us. 

So let’s take a moment to take that in…

So the good can be going on holidays, having a nice meal, it can also mean taking a tough decision or stepping into a space of vulnerability – like I am sorry! It can also have a downside. Doing what I perceive as “good” may not be “good” for another person. Or if I am being honest, doing the good, maybe what is convenient for me without consideration for anyone else – which could also be selfishness!  

So how does one know if one’s actions are good?  

Aristotle would answer with another question -  What kind of person is emerging from your choices? Before we can answer that we need to ask what person do I want to be? Thinking and reflecting about what kind of person I want to be are critical activities for Aristotle – the ultimate aim of our thinking capacity. What kind of person am I becoming? Is about my core values. Am I becoming a good, honest, kind, trustworthy person?

No quick fixes here.  It is a lifelong activity, of aligning my life’s choices and actions with my core values – a life of practising virtue, as Aristotle could call it. This is crucial for a good life – a well-lived life.   A virtue is thought to be a good character trait, a life skill, a habit, disposition that has become part of who you are and the way you act.

But what if I am not capable of virtue? Am I a bad person? Quite the opposite.

Virtue is not synonymous with perfectionism – a modern disease.  Virtues take time, trial, effort and many failed attempts to acquire. If you have virtue without effort – it is probably not a virtue at all - It is a natural character trait you are born with, rather like the placid smiley baby, so lucky you! So we all have vices and virtues, defects and excesses. While we might have a few good traits there are others we don’t have – if we are human!

Aristotle had 12 core values of virtues which give an all-rounded, full picture of a human being. As we can see Aristotle’s view of the good life is very far removed from the life our culture suggests we aim for.   

Aristotle’s good life is not defined by productivity or getting a sense of fulfilment and value from the affirmation of others. After all, most of history’s tyrants had the affirmation of the crowds or their inner circle.   In fact actions without “good” and “core values” as their aim are only a slippery slope to something far less than happy or fulfilling.

The ultimate good - Is there such a thing?

Aristotle would argue that the ultimate good for humans is happiness.  We may want many things – but ultimately happiness is what fulfils us and everyone wants to be fulfilled.

Happiness is not a state of bliss (that may be one of the outcomes) but ultimately it is a series of choices aligned to our core values.  The best way to achieve happiness is to reflect and think about how to live well.  In other words, am I aligning my choices with my core values every day?

Making time for this most important activity is the path to your own happiness and those you love. We only have one precious life!