Book 9 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 4 - The Role of Companionship in the Pursuit of Happiness
Explanation - Part By Part
"Further, men think that the happy man ought to live pleasantly."
Aristotle is addressing the common belief that a truly happy person should lead a life filled with enjoyment and pleasure. However, he's not referring to fleeting or superficial pleasures; rather, this is tied to a deeper sense of well-being and fulfillment that aligns with virtuous living. Happiness, to Aristotle, isn't just about the absence of hardship but includes the presence of meaningful, pleasant interactions and activities that resonate with a person's values and excellence.
"Now if he were a solitary, life would be hard for him; for by oneself it is not easy to be continuously active; but with others and towards others it is easier."
Aristotle is pointing out that living a solitary life — completely alone — would make it difficult for a person to remain actively engaged in meaningful and fulfilling activities. Human beings naturally interact, share experiences, and find purpose in relationships and social connections. Being around others, as opposed to isolating oneself, makes it easier to stay engaged in the kind of virtuous activity that leads to happiness. This reflects Aristotle's broader idea that humans are social creatures by nature, and our ability to thrive is deeply tied to our relationships with other people.
"With others therefore his activity will be more continuous, and it is in itself pleasant, as it ought to be for the man who is supremely happy; for a good man qua good delights in virtuous actions and is vexed at vicious ones, as a musical man enjoys beautiful tunes but is pained at bad ones."
Aristotle is explaining here that the happiest and best life is one filled with virtuous activity, and this activity becomes even better and more consistent when shared with others. A truly good person, by their nature, feels joy when performing virtuous deeds and discomfort when faced with immoral or bad actions. He compares this to how a skilled musician appreciates beautiful music but feels bothered by poor or out-of-tune melodies. The idea is that just as a musician naturally gravitates toward harmonious sounds, a virtuous person naturally enjoys and finds fulfillment in living a moral, virtuous life. Sharing such a life with others amplifies this joy and makes the activity of living virtuously more engaging and meaningful.
"A certain training in virtue arises also from the company of the good, as Theognis has said before us."
Aristotle is emphasizing the idea that being in the company of good and virtuous people helps us develop and strengthen our own virtues. He references the poet Theognis to support this claim, suggesting this is not a new idea, but a widely recognized truth. Essentially, the virtues and goodness of others around us can influence us positively, acting as a form of "training" or moral guidance that helps us become better people ourselves.