Introduction
The end purpose of human beings is to be good when it comes to acting rationally in order to achieve happiness. Achievement of happiness is the central purpose of human life; it dictates that human beings pursue happiness as a virtue and it is the end or purpose of human beings (Plato, 515c).
Elements or means of achieving happiness
There are five key elements of happiness as understood from Greek philosophy. The first of these is good physical and mental health. Thales and other Greek philosophers stated that the absence of pain and the full functioning of the human body and mind contribute in making a person happy. According to Plato, good mental health enhances a person’s ability to make reasonable and rational decisions that contribute to their happiness (426b).
The second element is fulfilling personal and intimate relationships such as friendships, marriage, family and marriage. In this regard, Greek philosophers stated agreed that human beings are social beings and the more one has fulfilling relationships, the happier those people are (Jowett, 25). The third is the ability to perceive the beauty inherent in nature and art. According to Greek Philosophers, it is rational for one to interpret nature and art properly and the more one is able to do this, the happier they become in their lives.
The fourth element of happiness is reasonable standards of living and the ability to engage in satisfactory work. According to Plato “each person must tend to business that is in accordance with his nature” (Book 5, Pg. 117, line 453b). Aristotle opined that human beings who enjoy or are satisfied in their work, and can make reasonable livelihoods out of their work manage to achieve more happiness. Tied to this is that man should pursue meaningful goals in order to achieve happiness.
The fifth element of happiness is having a religious or philosophic point of view that enables him to cope with the things that are unknown to him about life. Religion and philosophy should enable human beings to focus on the positives in life and to draw the best reactions and rationality out of human beings thereby enabling human beings to achieve happiness (Jowett, 43).
Thrasymachus’ definition of justice
Thrasymachus defines justice from a two-pronged view. He states that “justice is serving the interest of the stronger” (Plato, 339b). Second he states that “justice is obedience to the laws of one’s state” (Plato, 340c). Though he offered two propositions on what he deemed to be justice, it is the first definition that bears more weight. When answering questions from Socrates, Thrasymachus seems to go by the first definition when he states “justice is the real interest of the stronger and not what they think to be their interest as shown by the laws they make” (Plato, 345b). According to Thrasymachus, it does not pay to be just because just behavior only works to the advantage of other people (the stronger) but not to the person who behaves justly. Justice is imposed upon “the weak” by the strong to whose advantage it works. Plato asserts that, “justice is practiced only under compulsion, as someone else’s good-not our own.” (Plato, Pg. 33, line 360c)
I agree with Thrasymachus’ definition of justice. In the modern world justice is elusive and in most cases it only seems to serve the interests of the rich and the strong in the society. People who behave justly are likely not to benefit from their justly acts as compared to those who “monitor” or “lord” over others to behave justly. In his book The Republic, Plato states clearly, “the unjust man enjoys life better than the just” (Plato, Book 2, Pg. 35, line 362c)
The goal of every human being should be to achieve happiness. I believe that this is the ultimate motivation as to why people live and engage in different activities on a daily basis. I concur with Aristotle that as human beings we pursue money, honor and pleasure only because we believe that the attainment of these things will make us happy. All other things that people do are a means towards obtaining happiness and happiness is indeed the end in itself.
Conclusion
There are several cases in my life that I can pick from to assert that indeed happiness is the ultimate end or purpose of human beings. In my academic life, I have had to endure discomforts such as being away from my family and friends. I have also had to adjust my life to fit certain routines as dictated by school authorities. Though all this has not been to my liking, the achievement of good education and in particular good grades has always given me great satisfaction and happiness. It brings with it acceptance, honor and the prospects of an even brighter and happier future. It is this achievement of good grades that brings me the ultimate reward-“happiness”. This happiness dwarfs memories of uncomfortable situations of hard work, long study hours, discipline to keep in school and the caution to always adhere to school regulations. I have not found it to be justice that I have had to adhere to unquestionable school rules and I think many of those rules have served the interests of school authorities more than they have me, who acts justly. I concur with Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato that the achievement of happiness is the ultimate goal of all human beings.
Works Cited
Jowett, Benjamin. Plato's “The Republic”. New York: The Modern library, 1941. Print.
