Moral Philosophy | Page 7

the compound into which it enters, so

much does the act of the said element excel any act in any other line of
virtue. If, then, the understanding is divine in comparison with man, the
life of the understanding is divine in comparison with human life. We
must not take the advice of those who tell us, that being man, one
should cherish the thoughts of a man, or being mortal, the thoughts of a
mortal, but so far as in us lies, we must play the immortal [Greek:
athanatizein], and do all in our power to live by the best element in our
nature: for though that element be slight in quantity, in power and in
value it far outweighs all the rest of our being. A man may well be
reckoned to be that which is the ruling power and the better part in
him. . . . What is proper to each creature by nature, is best and sweetest
for each: such, then, is for man the life of the understanding, if the
understanding preeminently is man." (Ar., _Eth._, X., vii., 8, 9.)
8. But if happiness is an act in discharge of the function proper to man
as man (n. 3), how can it be happiness to lead a life which Aristotle
says is too good for man? The solution of this paradox is partly
contained in the concluding words of Aristotle above quoted, and will
still further appear presently (s. iv., n. I, p. 21), where we shall argue
that human life is a state of transition in preparation for a higher life of
the soul, to be lived, according to the natural order, when the
compound of soul and body would no longer exist.
9. _The act of contemplation, in which happiness consists, must rest
upon a habit of contemplation, which is intellectual virtue_. An act, to
be perfection and happiness, must be done easily, sweetly, and
constantly. But no act of the intellect can be so done, unless it rests
upon a corresponding habit. If the habit has not been acquired, the act
will be done fitfully, at random, and against the grain, like the music of
an untrained singer, or the composition of a schoolboy. Painful study is
not happiness, nor is any studied act. Happiness is the play of a mind
that is, if not master of, yet at home with its subject. As the intellect is
man's best and noblest power, so is intellectual virtue, absolutely
speaking, the best virtue of man.
10. The use of the speculative understanding is discernible in many
things to which even the common crowd turn for happiness, as news of

that which is of little or no practical concern to self, sight-seeing,
theatre-going, novels, poetry, art, scenery, as well as speculative
science and high literature. A certain speculative interest is mixed up
with all practical work: the mind lingers on the speculation apart from
the end in view.
11. _The act of contemplation cannot be steadily carried on, as is
necessary to happiness, except in the midst of easy surroundings_.
Human nature is not self-sufficient for the work of contemplation.
There is need of health and vigour, and the means of maintaining it,
food, warmth, interesting objects around you, leisure, absence of
distracting care or pain. None would call a man happy upon the rack,
except by way of maintaining a thesis. The happiness of a disembodied
spirit is of course independent of bodily conditions, but it would appear
that there are conditions of environment requisite for even a spirit's
contemplation.
12. Happiness must endure to length of days. Happiness is the perfect
good of man. But no good is perfect that will not last. One swallow
does not make a summer, nor does one fine day: neither is man made
blessed and happy by one day, nor by a brief time. The human mind
lighting upon good soon asks the question, Will this last? If the answer
is negative, the good is not a complete good and there is no complete
happiness coming of it. If the answer is affirmative and false, once
more that is not a perfect happiness that rests on a delusion. The
supreme good of a rational being is not found in a fool's paradise. We
want an answer affirmative and true: This happiness shall last.
13. We now sum up and formulate the definition of happiness as
follows: _Happiness is a bringing of the soul to act according to the
habit of the best and most perfect virtue, that is, the virtue of the
speculative intellect, borne out by easy surroundings, and enduring to
length of days--[Greek: energeia psychaes kat aretaen taen aristaen kai
teleiotataen en biph teleio.] (Ar., _Eth._, I., vii., 15, 16.)
14. Man is made for society.