HAPPINESS - state or activity??

[aurasing]

i have to write a philosophy paper saying if i agree/disagree with Aristotle's view on happiness.

Aristotle: "Happiness is an activity of the soul...it is not a state. For if it were, someone might have it and yet be asleep for his whole life, living the life of a plant, or suffer the greatest misfortunes."

So do you agree with Aristotle and think that happiness is an activity? Or disagree and think its a state?

Any views would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Eeks]

I think its an emotion and thus not a state nor a activity. Unless, your definition of "activity of the soul" is emotion. In that case, then it would be an "activity of the soul."

 

[WombatWoman]

Happiness is more like a journey than a destination; a journey is active, while a destination is static. Thus happiness might be said to be an activity rather than a state.

 

[Rand]

Happiness is an emotion, or 'state" of being that your mind is in. Certainly not an 'activity" IMHO

 

[Susan]

In one's mind, he or she can be in any different state of mind. Depressed, happy, elated.

It is the activity of one's mind or inner soul that can create that particular state of being at that particular time. In other words, it is in one's internal yearning or wantings within their soul that can achieve a certain state of mind.

Just today I heard on the news about a study that was done regarding people with depression. To control their depressions, people that took walks twice a day were very likely to overcome their depressive states without any medical additives.

To me, this is a clear example of activity of soul determining one's state of mind.

State is a condition of being or mind (or) the end result.

Happiness involves both the activity to achieve and the end result, so it's both.

 

[aurasing]

thanks for the insightful views...provides some good arguments for my paper