The Best Lifestyle

This book is about the meaning of our lives. The meaning of life is an existential theme to which the great ancient philosophers like Epicurus, Aristippus, Socrates, Plato and, especially Aristotle, gave much attention. In this book the author attempts an exposition of, and deliberates on, Aristotle's understanding of happiness, success in life, human flourishing or happiness, as the case may be, since there are different translations of the Greek term 'eudaimonia' and conflicting interpretations of Aristotle's conception of happiness in his ethical theory. Against the inclusive doctrine of happiness, the author argues in support of the dominant interpretation of happiness in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, in particular, and subjects it to a critical and analytical philosophical evaluation. The upshot is that Aristotle does not advocate the inclusive interpretation of happiness; instead, he maintains the exclusive, dominant view of eudemonia. In so doing, the author argues that Aristotle advocated what he should not have advocated since the life of contemplation alone is not sufficient to make us happy. However, the author holds the inclusive view of happiness.