In Book X of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle attempts to answer the question of what is the highest human activity. According to Aristotle, the active and contemplative life were forms of human activity. In the active/political life, character virtue and action were the highest goods. The active life was not concerned with contemplation but focused on acting socially. Aristotle believed that since humans were social and political beings, they had to behave socially. Aristotle was of the opinion that human beings, as social animals, needed to share their goods with their friends and the community. Only beasts and gods had no function in society.
Aristotle also believed that virtue did not arise as a result of a person’s nature but was in fact something that required being taught and good habituation resulting from following the laws of the city. The active life was concerned with the establishment of these laws to help in the development of virtue.
On the other hand, the contemplative life believed in intellectual virtue. It was more self-sufficient, complete and stable, with fewer external requirements such as money or power. Aristotle surmised that theoretical intellect was the most divine, god-like human capacity. Consequently, it’s virtue would be the highest virtue. The contemplative life was more perfect and intelligible than the political life as it dealt with unchanging factors- math, physical constants, metaphysics etc. Dealing with questions related to philosophy, math, science were the most pleasurable. One of the unique abilities of humans is reason. Accordingly, it stands to reason that the ability to think and answer questions related to science and philosophy would be a cause for human happiness. Additionally, theoretical inquiry examined the deepest, broadest questions of why things were they way they were, even in practical contexts.
I believe that the contemplative life truly is the highest human activity. Aristotle argues in favor of the contemplative life. According to Aristotle, the main goal of human beings is rational activity. A unique quality of human beings that sets them apart from other animals is their ability to reason. Therefore, rational activity should be the ‘telos’ of human life. Aristotle was of the opinion that happiness was an activity that was “intrinsically choiceworthy”, sought only for its own merits and not to gain some additional advantage. Happiness lay in activities in accord with the best virtue. Aristotle believed that the highest form of happiness was contemplation. The activity of contemplating, is “noble and divine” and in accord with virtue, is the highest form of happiness. Contemplation is the best virtue. It involves the use of our rational faculties. According to Aristotle, the ability to reason and understand was one of the best capabilities of human beings and thus, this activity in conformity with virtue was the most complete happiness. Additionally, contemplation is not an activity with a time limit but rather an activity one can indulge in continuously.
Aristotle believed that happiness must have pleasure involved and since activities in accord with theoretical virtue are the most pleasant, the contemplative life must be the most pleasing. People who have acquired knowledge about philosophy and other subjects tend to lead a more satisfying life and spend their time in ways that are more pleasing to them as compared to people still in search of knowledge. The questions of philosophy are pure and stable according to Aristotle and thus seeking answers to them is more pleasurable. Additionally, the contemplative life is extremely self-sufficient. In the contemplative life, one is not in need of additional members of the human population in order to be contemplative. When basic necessities of living are taken out of the equation, a contemplative person will be more self-sustaining than any other type of person. A just or temperate or courageous person would require people on whom they can bestow their virtues or with whom they can share their activities. The contemplative life also does not require the presence of external goods like money or power in order to carry out its activity. However, as regards theoretical virtue, a person is capable of contemplation on his own. Increasing his thinking capacities makes him wiser and thus increases his self-sufficiency. While the presence of co-workers and other people might advance his capacities, he is still able to do it alone. The contemplative activity is sort after for it’s own reasons and not in search of some additional gain.
Aristotle believed that leisure lay at the root of happiness, i.e. the necessity to take active part in things was not conducive to happiness. While the political life would not allow leisure and was not choiceworthy, contemplative life sought no further goal, was leisured, did not lead to fatigue and was self-sufficient. Thus, the contemplative life was divine in Aristotle’s view. A proof of that is seen in the gods. We cannot believe that the gods carry out any activities other than contemplation. It would be ludicrous to suggest that the gods carried out just or courageous mundane actions and yet they are blessed and happy. The gods are gifted with theoretical virtue. All activity would be considered “petty and unworthy of gods”. So the gods are living and happy and yet not active. That leaves the contemplative life. The most similar activity of human beings to this would be the source of complete happiness. Other animals, incapable of reason and contemplation were consequently incapable of happiness. The person more capable of contemplation would thus be happier.
Aristotle raises very logical arguments in favor of the contemplative life. T he contemplative life is one in which a person spends most of his time, at leisure, thinking and trying to answer some of the greatest mysteries of the universe. A contemplative person is aware of the fact that he has acquired knowledge. In the absence of contemplative people, we would be unable to have an active life. The contemplative life asks and answers questions on all topics. While an active person would establish laws to help in the development of character virtues, a contemplative person, with intrinsic theoretical virtue would be able to decide whether the implementation of certain laws would yield better gains or not. People would be unable to lead a good life if they were unaware of how to do so. Discourses in philosophy help to answer these questions and thus the contemplative life helps in the carrying out of an active life.
The contemplative life is extremely self-sufficient. Besides the items necessary for survival, a contemplative person has no needs for external goods. A political person needs power in order to carry out his activities, a person seeking wealth needs money. However, a person in search of knowledge requires no external goods; the mind alone is sufficient. While the presence of contemporaries might aid the process of contemplation, a person can manage alone. However, a just or temperate person will need other people on whom to bestow their activities and virtues. Man may be a social animal but leading a contemplative life helps people become self-sustaining. It increases their wisdom and makes it easier for them to live and think in isolation. Contemplation is also sought after for its own benefits, it is “intrinsically choiceworthy” and is not pursued for some ulterior motive.
Aristotle argues that reason is a fundamental function of humans and that reasonable activity is our ‘telos’. This is what separates us from all other animals and unites us with the gods. Aristotle links happiness with contemplation and concludes that organisms capable of reasoning are happier than those incapable of it. Animals, lacking the virtue of reason, are unable to sense happiness. Humans are happier than animals but gods, who spend their lives in contemplation are the happiest of all beings. Thus contemplation is a divine virtue and is the source of complete happiness.
Aristotle’s arguments in support of the contemplative life are reasonable and well-thought out. Human beings as a species have always strived to emulate the gods, irrespective of their varying beliefs of the appearance of said gods. A virtue all gods have in common is contemplation and by leading a contemplative life, human beings strive to be closer to the gods they worship and thus closer to that complete happiness people spend their lives searching for.Paste your essay in here…