Socrates, Are You Happy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Socrates, Are You Happy - Term Paper Example Human perfection is thus a product of perfection of the intellect. The following paper discusses the just occasion of Socrates’ view that a morally good person is happier than the morally bad person. This will be followed by a personal philosophical worry related to his justification. DISCUSSION Socrates’ view of the relation between virtues and happiness is that good morals are necessary for the fulfillment of life happiness. He believed that an honest, fair, wise and self controlled individual will merit praise and respect from other people thus contributing to achievement of happiness. Portraying virtuous behaviors towards people does not guarantee moral reciprocity. In such a case, Socrates’ view makes one wonder whether nasty responses to virtuous deeds are an aspect of happiness. Consequently, morally potent people have a tendency of leading a life filled with fun and joyous experiences. In this perspective, happiness emanates from the belief that their act ions are for the life betterment and satisfaction. Everything that brings satisfaction is an agent of happiness not unless one is missing out on the different forms of happiness. However, he counters this by suggesting that normal happiness makes one think that they are happy whereas real happiness stems deeply inside the soul. He portends, "The Olympian victor makes you think yourself happy; I make you be happy" (West 36-37). Socrates affirms that true happiness extends beyond external wealth and worldly possessions. He asserts, â€Å"Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else pleasurable for men† (West 30). This implies that it is impossible for one to buy perfect happiness through material possessions. Socrates views virtue and soul as a means to a healthy and flourishing after life and the evil tendencies associated with an individual have the ability to destroy the soul leading to future unhappiness. He believes in the existen ce of a higher power that rewards and punishes good and bad deeds in the after life. This rhymes with his affirmation that morally upright individuals will lead a happy life both currently and in the after life. Amid his belief in the existence of the after life, Socrates does not believe in any sacred scripture or religious myths (Leibowitz). The lack of credible proves of the existence such an after life after death compromises the logic that individuals abiding to the moral virtues will experience a happy after life. Does this means that one has to endure painful experiences that may be associated with maintenance of virtuous principles to deny he or herself satisfaction in the current life for an after life? According to Socrates, wisdom is the centrally significant aspect of happiness. He maintained, â€Å"The unexamined life is not worth living† (West, 38). Evil, people lack an aspect of reflection in the way they lead their life thus wasting the capacity of critical th inking that enables one choose between vices and virtues. They only indulge in those activities that please their body without an analysis of the far reaching effects of their actions. Virtues cannot be developed without wisdom implying that virtuous individuals stand a better chance of cultivating long lasting happiness than evil people. Moreover, wisdom is required for an individual to know whether what they are pursuing in their life will