John Vespasian explains that Aristotle placed purpose at the very centre of his view of ethics. Purpose is the magnet that enables polarisation. It is the force that keeps things aligned and harmonious. What’s the purpose of life according to Aristotle? To attain happiness (in Greek “eudaimonia”). He defined happiness as “thriving” or “flourishing,” a state of high, steady enjoyment. According to Aristotle, a proper human life shall aim at high achievement, self-actualisation, and happiness. It is not enough to just stay alive, eat and reproduce. It is not enough to pursue pleasure and entertainment. Without purpose, it becomes impossible to attain the highest stages of joy. Happiness comes from striving to achieve crucial goals, and employing your energies and reason to reach your full potential. For Aristotle, happiness goes beyond fleeting pleasures. You cannot randomly fall into happiness. It is a state of being that can only be earned through good decisions and actions. Aristotle taught that every person should establish a purpose (“telos” in Greek) that is worth pursuing. Purpose enables each human being to filter out noise and distractions, and use his resources optimally. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/aristotles-perspective-on-the-purpose-of-human-life/

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