Library Haul

Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs with self-actualization or, perhaps, happiness at the top and other more basic needs like required before reading that level. Aristotle, like other thinkers in the Ancient Mediterranean, thought that EUDAIMONIA or the good life or long term happiness was the goal of life.

As he says in the Nichomachean Ethics:

Verbally there is a very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement say that it is [eudaimonia], and identify living well and faring well with being happy; but with regard to what [eudaimonia] is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise. For the former think it is some plain and obvious thing like pleasure, wealth or honour... [1095a17]

Aristotle spends much time writing about the idea that the pursuit of moral virtue will lead to happiness. So, he had a different approach than Maslow.

The question I ask is, what do you see as leading to long term happiness?