Optimism
and positive emotions are usually connected with “happiness”. Positive thoughts and emotions are indeed essential
for feeling better through getting with our own interests as well as adapting
in different testing situations. Optimism is more like a personal attitude but happiness
has of course several meanings. I was just wondering in what extent could happiness, success
and relevant “wishful thinking” be more than “individual” affairs…
In other
words, why is it necessary to turn out to “neurons” or “chemical” and
“biological” procedures in order to study and affect psychological aspects of emotions
and motivations? In fact our approaches should seriously consider that we are
“naturally” social and political objects, as Aristotle says. This means that
there is a general “need” for companionship that preexists in human nature. This
“natural” trend obviously shows a positive inclination towards “good” in every
human being as Plato had described including the more practical issue of being
just in order to coexist peacefully as Aristotle later explained.
Let’s try
to expound Aristotle’s clear concepts about the “political nature” of human
beings itself.
First of
all the presumed meaning of this primarily political nature is that human
beings’ behaviors aim to “good” and “justice”. In this framework friendship and
companionship are sources of pleasure and confidence as well as they set up
justice’s foundations. Aristotle documented friendship’s connection to justice
by saying that “true friends would not injure each other”. Secondly, we could
not even speak about “rights” and “pleasures” if we didn’t mention social
relations through which these pleasures arise and are exercised. On the other
hand social order has certain “pressures” for regularity via certain “rules”
and “limits”. These “pressures” also give
satisfaction to human beings but in a different way than other “pleasures” as
they make the world sure and predictable and shape social roles’ demands. Politics real
intention for Aristotle is to spread these friendship relations.
The above
ideas are straightly connected to emotions. Aristotle remarks that there are
“pleasures” to be avoided as well as “essential suffering” regarding social
action. For example someone who is “moderate” probably should have experienced
“limitation” but he/ she still can feel positive emotions about his/ her
choices. This pleasure obviously derives from knowing that he/ she has done the
right thing. Real “virtues” are always in the perfect “medium” way among
“overuse” and “lack” according Aristotle. This means that our lives’ end is to
find the right middle ways by practicing them into social relations. For the
most part “virtue” is rather about a way full of “essential suffering”. Farther
we couldn’t feel only positive emotions because “unpleasing” emotions are
sometimes fair too: we could feel “fair anger” (middle) since we do not try to
harm anyone (abuse) and since we are not happy with others’ misfortune (lack). Aristotle
believed that our inside intentions are wisdom and morality both practiced by
feeling the “perfect” degree of the “right feeling” in the “right moment”. Apart
from that coexisting with other human beings makes it controversial to care
only about our own “pleasures” without conforming in a way of “losing
something” for the “general good”. It more seems like there are particular cases
of “essential suffering” and “limits” that help as be happier in the long run!
Concluding
I believe that spending time on well preparation of our daily happy moments
including sharing these activities with other people are more “secrets” of lasting
happiness. I also insist that there is still a wide misunderstanding about
“individual” character of all “pleasures” which make people try to fill the gap
of missing friends and companions by seeking for temporary “positive emotions”…
Author
profile:
Christina
Kalavri is a Psychologist- Criminologist Msc.
Postscript/
PS:
These articles are for the most part “spare
time” readings. The “nature” of issues I studied at university makes me seek
for simple words to express ideas about “happiness” in terms of “citizenship
virtues” that promote peaceful coexisting without “pressures” or feelings of
“inferiority”. Ancient Greek philosophers perform clear concepts about the
above indissoluble link…
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