Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Aristotle – How to live a good life

ralphammer.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 183 posts

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#121

Post by pluto_modadic »

resource_waste wrote: post #102

I read nicomachean ethics, can I skip the article? My criticism of Aristotle: Living the golden mean, like a happy person isnt going to help when your country is invaded. This is my number 1 criticism of Temperance as a virtue. There is a reason we grind in college so hard, there is a reason why at some points in our career we work absurd hours and gain weight/become unhealthy. Aristotle's golden mean (or Temperance)…

this reminds me that stoicism was written by leaders in govt and didn't consider classism or economic disparity. Sure, they might have started from broke, but they were important.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#122

Post by stonethrowaway »

Asymo wrote: post #116
harimau777 wrote: post #101

It seems to me that this either underemphasizes the importance of happiness or assumes that happiness will be an inevitable byproduct of virtue; even if we define happiness very broadly to include things like "satisfaction" or a "sense of purpose". Part of me suspects that may be because Aristotle was likely upper class and therefore already had success and/or wealth. I'm not sure that I think his arguments work for…

Yes, Aristotle was born into a more privileged family, but I'm not sure if it's accurate to say that he was rich. However, his financial conditions and the fame that his life's work brought him seem to have had the opposite effect of what you suggested. There is a painting by Rembrandt that represents exactly this. The painting depicts Aristotle with one hand holding a chain of gold and the other hand resting on a bu…

It’s an allegorical painting by Rembrandt, nothing more.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#123

Post by [deleted] »

harimau777 wrote: post #101

It seems to me that this either underemphasizes the importance of happiness or assumes that happiness will be an inevitable byproduct of virtue; even if we define happiness very broadly to include things like "satisfaction" or a "sense of purpose". Part of me suspects that may be because Aristotle was likely upper class and therefore already had success and/or wealth. I'm not sure that I think his arguments work for…

[deleted]

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#124

Post by seneca »

harimau777 wrote: post #101

It seems to me that this either underemphasizes the importance of happiness or assumes that happiness will be an inevitable byproduct of virtue; even if we define happiness very broadly to include things like "satisfaction" or a "sense of purpose". Part of me suspects that may be because Aristotle was likely upper class and therefore already had success and/or wealth. I'm not sure that I think his arguments work for…

Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher and proponent of Aristotelian virtue ethics, was literally a slave. Some ideas, particularly the best ones, aren't subject to class politics.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#125

Post by mattgreenrocks »

hasbot wrote: post #118

> Aristotle says that humans have a capacity to be good, but it is up to us to develop our character. This is best achieved through study and habit. Cool. So, then I just draw the rest of the owl? I have no idea where to begin to develop my character.

Stoics believe in the four cardinal virtues: courage, justice, wisdom, and moderation. I think they're a good starting point for character development, and a lifetime of work on their own.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#127

Post by throwaway984393 »

agumonkey wrote: post #51
z3t4 wrote: post #2

My empirical study of happy people comes down to these three points: * Have low expectations * Enjoy simple things * Don't care too much

I'm trying to find how to maintain passion, drive and fun. The 'low expectations' philosophy always feel gray to me.

[dead]

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#128

Post by BoingBoomTschak »

guerrilla wrote: post #46
BoingBoomTschak wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being noble, wise and virtuous didn't mean that much alienation from the general population in his era, methinks. Of course, some will try to argue by twisting these concepts into some modern hedonistic feelsgood version not even fit as a parody.

> Being noble, wise and virtuous didn't mean that much alienation from the general population in his era, methinks. Ever heard of how Socrates died? haha

"from the general population"

He was accused by poets and politicians, not the common man. Most probably because he rubbed some powerful people in the wrong way; the modern consensus makes a believable point about it being political, Socrates not being a democracy fanboy and all.

Re: Aristotle – How to live a good life

#130

Post by voiceblue »

harimau777 wrote: post #101

It seems to me that this either underemphasizes the importance of happiness or assumes that happiness will be an inevitable byproduct of virtue; even if we define happiness very broadly to include things like "satisfaction" or a "sense of purpose". Part of me suspects that may be because Aristotle was likely upper class and therefore already had success and/or wealth. I'm not sure that I think his arguments work for…

> I'm not sure that I think his arguments work for people who are suffering or struggling to get by.

    Here lies Epictetus,
    a slave maimed in body, 
    the ultimate in poverty,
    and the favored of the gods.
I see that someone has already mentioned him in this thread, but his epitaph is a direct address to your doubt.
Post reply on HN