Aristotle
Classical Greece
Happiness consists in activity in accordance with virtue over a complete life.
Historical context
Aristotle studied at Plato’s Academy and later taught at the Lyceum. The surviving corpus spans logic, nature, ethics, and politics.
Overview
Ethical virtue develops through practice. Practical judgment helps recognise what response fits a particular situation. Learning a general rule and knowing how to act are therefore distinct achievements.
Main claims
Happiness is understood as activity in accordance with virtue over a complete life.
Debates and nuances
External goods can contribute to exercising virtue.
This entry provides educational context.