Comparison of Aristotles View of Human Happiness with Aquinas Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Aristotle indicated that an important factor towards the realization of happiness is a good moral character an individual possesses. An individual must work hard to possess all virtues required towards realizing happiness. He records that a person who is happy lives in agreement with the complete virtue and possesses enough external goods throughout his or her life (Bok, 2010). On the case of Aquinas, he states that imperfect happiness can be maintained on earth. Therefore, he got influenced by the theory of happiness from Aristotle. Aristotle argued that happiness is dependent upon the actualization of an individual s natural faculties (Thomas Regan, 2003). Among the major faculties in the life of a human being is the reason and it can get understood that happiness can get achieved in life in proportion and move to the level of access to reason. Aquinas stated that the ultimate happiness in human beings is comprised of contemplated truth. It is an operation in man and no other ani mal shares the operation (Theron, 2008). Contemplated truth cannot get directed to another end due to the fact that contemplation of truth is required for a person s sake. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison of Aristotles View of Human Happiness with Aquinas or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page It may be health, friends, knowledge or wealth and results to the perfection of human nature. It also causes enrichment in the life of an individual. Due to that fact, there is a necessity to make choices, and some of the choices may be difficult, the lesser goods have immediate pleasure and are more enticing (Bok, 2010). On the other hand, greater goods are painful and need many sacrifices.