When considering philosophy of life, some may seek personal happiness while others might explore the happiness of others. The Greeks, however, sought arête, or excellence. This idea focused on the quality of every action and experience of one’s life.
Arete does not only benefit the individual. By achieving complete excellence, this brings pride to the individual as well as benefit to others. Excellence can be shared. When working toward arete for the benefit of oneself as well as others, arete would help contribute to a healthy environment.
However if arete is not shared, it will negatively shape society. If everyone works towards achieving arete, everyone will constantly try to one-up each other. And on an even larger scale, if the idea is applied to today’s society, arete appears to be very similar to our concept of perfection. If we strive for perfection, there exists a heavy pressure to constantly do better, to be better, and to think and act a certain way.
Arete is a self-centered inquiry that eradicates the idea of respect. By focusing solely on obtaining the “best” lifestyle ultimately means whoever does not work towards achieving arete is beneath those who do. This promotes a hierarchy thus encouraging us to compete against one another.
I love how you compared the concept of arete with then and with our current society. I also understand how arete can turn into becoming the best and the most perfect out of all, constantly trying to one up others. I think that if everyone tried to become the best, they'll just end up becoming self-absorbed and only care about bettering themselves.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you wrote it out, and I love how you emphasize on "Excellence can be shared." It nice how it's a fragment sentence, too, because it's a great and unique way to emphasize, instead of just using discription to do it.
ReplyDeleteI love this, it could use some more expansion though! Very thoughtful and insightful.
ReplyDeleteI think you explained the ideas very coherently and organized. Maybe use more examples next time. :)
ReplyDeleteSome interesting thoughts here Natalie but you have me wondering about a few things. Is arête about "obtaining the best lifestyle" or more simply working to do things well? It may or may not lead to fame or a great life. All that you are really assured of is that you struggled to be the best human you can be by doing things the best way possible. Where is the hierarchy in that? Is the blacksmith who makes the sharpest, strongest sword is in completion with others or himself?
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