Aristotle and Rousseau: Comparative Analysis of Happiness, Virtue, and Human Perfectibility
Overview
This paper compares Aristotle's and Rousseau's philosophical perspectives on human happiness and virtue. Aristotle contends that happiness derives from the exercise of virtue and rational practice, while Rousseau argues that humans are shaped by environmental factors and perfectibility. The author agrees with Rousseau's view that humans are subject to change based on environmental circumstances, illustrating this with a pandemic-related example of social behavior modification.
What this essay covers
- Aristotle's theory of happiness as exercise of virtue and rational contemplation
- Rousseau's concept of human perfectibility and environmental influence on moral development
- Author's analysis and personal perspective on Rousseau's philosophy applied to contemporary social change
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Aristotle and Rousseau Believe
According to Aristotle, happiness mainly depends on an individual himself concerning others. Human existence dramatically depends on the ultimate purpose of happiness (Radenović, Ljiljana 59-68). He also argued that human happiness is neither pleasure nor virtue but is the exercise of virtue. Since virtue mainly depends on cultivation, then it is more individualistic. Happiness can only be achieved at the end of one's life (Radenović, Ljiljana 59-68). It is because it is a goal and not just a provisional state or reaction. Aristotle viewed man as a rational animal, and his happiness significantly depends on the practice or exercise of his reasons. The perfection of humans is only attained through happiness (Steinberg, David 147-167). Furthermore, happiness depends on the acquisition of moral characters. It can only be displayed through the exercise of courage, generosity, citizenship, and friendship in an individual life. The virtue is significantly achieved when there is a balance in their practice, and deficiency of balance results in its limitation (Steinberg, David 147-167). Finally, he argued that the awareness of our coherent abilities of happiness depends on intellectual contemplation.
Rousseau believed that humans are just like animals like any other, only guided by two principles of self-preservation and pity (Tully et al. 184-195). What makes man different is his level of perfectibility. Naturally, man has no idea of what is right or evil. Therefore his perfection ability allows him to be shaped by environmental factors making him change (Tully et al. 184-195).