BLOG POST #2: ARÊTE AS A GUIDE FOR LIFE
I believe that pursuing quality in life if the same thing as pursuing happiness. A real life, physical example of this would be you want to find quality friends, and those friend provide you with happiness because they are quality friends.
I dont disagree with the fact that if you focus on being your best self can be a selfish idea, I believe that the action sigh take determine whether you are going to be a selfish human. Your definition of what being the best self means. If that means that you donate to charity, and also focus on an enjoyment of yours, than I believe that that is a well rounded person who has found arete. But it all depends in what someone defines as their best self.
The definition of arete, isn't what determines if someone is selfish, it is the way you determine what arete's means, and how you implement it in your life. Another component is the fact that you need to determine if you are doing this for the pleasure of bragging rights, because in real like there won't be anyone there to tell you that you are doing well. To achieve arete, you need to be completely focused on yourself, bout not for the reward, because if that would be the case, arete would never work.
In conclusion, I believe that arete can be achieved in a non-selfish way, however it needs to be in the right context, and that you cannot be looking for a reward because then arete would never work.
Why does arete not work when thinking about it as a reward?
ReplyDeleteYou raise a good point about how in real life, there won't necessarily be someone there to tell you you are doing well. I find it interesting that when you're doing something well, you sort of know instinctively.
ReplyDeleteA point about format--do not take a position in the first paragraph. Show me instead you understand the question being asked. Here's the basic approach:
Paragraph one: introduce the question being considered and why the answer matters. Do NOT take a position on the question in this paragraph.
Paragraph two: one possible answer and reasons why it makes sense (specific support).
Paragraph three: a different (or opposite) answer and reasons for that answer (additional support).
Paragraph four: your final position on the matter at this point and time and why.