Debating Aristotles Claim: Can Children Truly Be Happy?

Abstract

Aristotelian Claim: Children Cannot be happy The concept of virtue ethics was developed by a Greek Philosopher called Aristotle. He claims that moral character is acquired through continuous practice and that happiness is acquired throughout life. He also believes that happiness and good life is because of virtues. According to Aristotle, happiness consists of achieving, through the course of a whole lifetime, all the goods — health, wealth, knowledge, friends, etc. — that lead to the perfection of human nature and the enrichment of human life((Aristotle And His Definition Of Happiness - Overview, 2021)). He believes that happiness is all about choices, and human beings face making choices that contribute to their happiness. Aristotle claims that a child cannot be happy. Aristotle argues that children cannot be happy since they cannot choose for themselves and perform excellent acts of courage and contemplation (Farwell 247). The virtue of happiness is cultivated and is not acquired quickly; it is a gradual process; hence children do not have it. Aristotle argues that happiness is developed, and one needs to go through various experiences and situations that will, in the end, inspire a happy life. Aristotle uses the maturity thesis to explain happiness. A person’s life extends through a process from ethical to intellectual maturity, which a child does not have. Aristotle also claims happiness requires a complete life for it to be realized fully. Aristotle argues that it does not take a swallow or one fine day to achieve happiness; it is the final kick that defines a person’s life's totality. He compares children happiness with an acorn. An acorn is not yet a tree before it grows to maturity, and so are children. They cannot achieve happiness in a twilight; they ought to undergo the skirmishes of...