The Middle Path was a minimal requirement for the meditative life, and not the source of virtue in itself.Īristotle is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western science and philosophy, making contributions to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture, medicine, dance and theatre. For Aristotle the mean was a method of achieving virtue, but for Buddha the Middle Path referred to a peaceful way of life which negotiated the extremes of harsh asceticism and sensual pleasure seeking. Aristotle’s doctrine of the Mean is reminiscent of Buddha’s Middle Path, but there are intriguing differences. In this way he introduced the idea of a science of happiness in the classical sense, in terms of a new field of knowledge.Įssentially, Aristotle argues that virtue is achieved by maintaining the Mean, which is the balance between two excesses. Yet as we shall see, Aristotle was convinced that a genuinely happy life required the fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as well as mental well-being. That is, happiness depends on the cultivation of virtue, though his virtues are somewhat more individualistic than the essentially social virtues of the Confucians. Living during the same period as Mencius, but on the other side of the world, he draws some similar conclusions. As a result he devotes more space to the topic of happiness than any thinker prior to the modern era. “Happiness depends on ourselves.” More than anybody else, Aristotle enshrines happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself.
Make a Difference: Change the World, Change Yourself.Annotated Bibliography – Strengths and Virtues.The Philosophy of Virtuous Use of Strengths.Annotated Bibliography – Getting in the Flow.Annotated Bibliography-Mindfulness and Positive Thinking.Review of Key Studies on Mindfulness and Positive Thinking.The Philosophy and Science of Mindfulness.Mindfulness and Positive Thinking Expand.Annotated Bibliography – Spiritual Engagement.Key Studies on Religious/Spiritual Engagement & Meaning.The Philosophy of Finding Meaning in Life.Spiritual Engagement and Meaning Expand.Review of Key Studies on Caring/Volunteering.The Philosophical Basis of Caring, Compassion, and Interdependence.What Is Happiness? The Science and the Hype.Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) improved the telescope, with which he made several important astronomical discoveries, including the four largest moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus, and the rings of Saturn, and made detailed observations of sunspots. What were the major discoveries of the scientific revolution?
He believed all substances were made of small amounts of these four elements of matter. He thought that all materials on Earth were not made of atoms, but of the four elements, Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. Aristotle did not believe in the atomic theory and he taught so otherwise. Effects: New discoveries were made, old beliefs began to be proven wrong.Īlso, what did Aristotle do for the atomic theory?Ĥ50 B.C. During the era of the Scientific Revolution, people began using experiments and mathematics to understand mysteries. He was a student of Plato who in turn studied under Socrates.Īlso Know, what were the effects of the scientific revolution? Causes: Renaissance encouraged curiosity, investigation, discovery, modern day knowledge. 322 B.C.E.) Aristotle is a towering figure in ancient Greek philosophy, who made important contributions to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture, medicine, dance and theater. He, too, believed in a geocentric Universe and that the planets and stars were perfect spheres though Earth itself was not.īeside this, what did Aristotle contribute to science? He studied under the great philosopher Plato and later started his own school, the Lyceum at Athens. He is sometimes called the grandfather of science.