able to do as they please and rule over the just people. Then he goes to show that pain and pleasure can be together at the same point in time however, good and bad can not be together at the same
time. The reason he did this was to show that since that being unjust is bad how could an unjust person be good. He states that when someone is unjust he does bad things and ends up surrounding
himself in evil, however, a just person tends to do good things and surrounds himself in that.
In Aristotle's argument he seems to be saying that in order to be good you need to have happiness and happiness can only be achieved by completing the need for something. Happiness is an end and not a
beginning. Another words you can't be happy and then want something you must want something and then attain it to be happy. He then states that there is still a problem in defining happiness because
it could be different in different people. He states that you must be a virtuous person in order to recieve happiness. You must be wanting happiness for the common good in order to attain true
happiness. He states that you must be willing to chose something that may not be itself be pleasent since good and happiness can come out of it.
I found that they both seem to be saying that good and happiness is shown through actions not words. They both seem to understand that you must be a good virtuous person to attain happiness. HOwever, it
seems to me they disagree as to how it is attained. It seems Plato starts with happiness to attain good where Aristotle starts with good to attain happiness. I seem to think Aristotle is right with
this one.
order to achieve happiness". He states that even if one is in pain if you have a pleasure that overides or negates the pain it is a good pleasure. He states however that passive pleasure are more
fundamental. The human goal is not just a pleasing life but it is being in a complete state of serenity. You should not allow trouble to be in the body or the mind he states that wealth, fame and power
are bad pleasures and don't lead to happiness, however, health and mental peace are good pleasures that lead to happiness. Epicuris feels that we shouldn't fear death because when we are alive we are not dead and when we are dead we are not alive and have no feeling. He feels that we can control our life somewhat since he believes we are merely free floating atoms moving in a general direction together. He feels that since the atoms leave us when we are dead then we will not have pain but we will still live on
forever since our atoms are indestructable. He feels that gods are atom phenomena and that we should feel
blessed by them and not fear them or fear that they will punish us. He states that God is immortal and He is blessed because of this. He states that death is nothing to us again and that death anticipation is an empty pain and we should get rid of it. His main comment I think is we should have the most pleasant life we can
without trying to do to much fulfilling. That pleasure in itself is fulfilling and we should live life without fear. Epictetus seems to feel the opposite of Epicurus in that there is a divine providence and a reason for life and things in life not just a chance that atoms so happened to meet up together and flow a
specific way. He states that "the universe operates according to laws with which human reason is in harmony and that we should strive to understand". He feels this is important because if we don't know
the proper placing of ourselves in the world there won't be harmony in our lives and in the world around us. In doing this we must realize that we are a part of whole and that we should be willing to
do our individual role in that whole. He unlike Epicurus feels we should make the best of what we can and for the rest of things just take them as they come. Not throw them off like some atomical binge
of energy. He feels that we can find happiness in fulfilling our place on earth and the needs and will of other and God's divine plan. I think he feels we should love other and include others in
our happiness and we can't just be selfish and only find happiness within our little bubble.
I'm much more on Epictetus' side due to the fact that I'm a Christian and feel that we do indeed have our own place in this world. I feel that yes we are here for a purpouse much more then
just an atomic coincidence. I believe we should understand our role in the "whole" and help others. I do find happiness in understanding this and know that I am part of a body trying to
achieve a great and positive goal.