The Possibility of Happiness in This World

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Happiness on this Earth
Compare and contrast how the different authors see the possibility of “happiness” in this world – analyse their views and highlight what components of human life they deem necessary to attain happiness – if at all possible
Happiness is an emotional state where there is satisfaction, joy and contentment where there is the absence of suffering. While the term is subjective it is associated with pleasant spiritual satisfaction and physical satisfaction as well as contentment. On the hand, unhappiness occurs when one faces frustrations including when there is the failure to achieve goals, to fulfill their desires or to achieve purposes. in defining what is a human good, Aristotle points out that “It is generally agreed to be happiness, but there are various views as to what happiness is” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1). Aristotle’s (Nicomachean Ethics), the Gospel of Matthew 1-6, Exodus, Genesis and Letter of Paul to the Roman Augustine all link happiness with joy and virtue, but they also offer different accounts on the place of happiness in the lives of human beings.
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle emphasizes that happiness is the vital goal or good and acquiring the virtues is necessary to achieve the goal. Aristotle argues that happiness is the ultimate good to which all men aspire by nature. Additionally, nature impels us to seek happiness and Aristotle links happiness with the good life. However, in reality not all human beings have the same understanding of what is a good life, where for some happiness consists of pleasure, for others in riches and others in honours. Happiness consists of acting to achieve perfection of human nature and if this is achieved, then man can attain happiness.
Aristotle argues that cultivating virtue and not the vices is necessary to make people happy, but people also need to maintain a balance between excesses. Human beings are rational and use reasons, unlike animals where ethical living helps to achieve happiness. Augustine considers relying on God’s commands as what explains what is good, but happiness is not man’s ultimate goal, while Aristotle considers happiness’s the supreme good. Augustine focuses on the view of happiness as supreme good, and like Aristotle, they both emphasize the benefits of the philosophy of understanding happiness.
While the religious texts and Augustine’s work mainly focus on spiritual happiness, Aristotle tries to understand and explain happiness form diverse perspectives, but he does not prioritize the religious viewpoint. Aristotle focuses on virtue and argues that a just act helps preserve happiness where the philosopher highlights the political context where the virtue of justice is important (Nicomachean Ethics, Book 2). Happiness is good and associated with virtue and is desirable as it brings joy where obedience of the God-given commandments brings happiness and there is punishment for disobedience.
The Sermon on the Mount is in the Gospel of Matthew chapters 5 to 7, Jesus begins by referring to his disciples a series of beatitudes, establishing in eight statements how a man can find the way to true happiness...