- THE WORK
- Posts
- Good people are happy people
Good people are happy people
Aristotle and Ben Franklin's lessons on happiness
Do you find pleasure in doing what’s right, even when it’s tough?
If you answered yes, you’re a better person than me.
If you answered 🤷🏽♂️ or 🙈, I have a treat for you.
The Day I Met Aristotle and Redefined Happiness
I met Aristotle in 2010 while reading The Niomachean Ethics, the best book on happiness ever written. In it, Aristotle explores the question: What is the ultimate purpose of human existence?
His answer: “Eudaimonia,” which translates to a profound, lasting form of happiness.
It’s important to note that eudaimonia has nothing to do with temporary highs and quick dopamine. It is not something that can be gained or lost in a few hours.
For Aristotle, happiness is measured towards the end of your life. It is the sum of your actions—your moral net worth.
… for as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.
The Key to Happiness: Virtue
Aristotle says that to be happy, you must live a virtuous life.
Virtue refers to the practice of consistently making good choices and acting in an honorable manner, even when there aren’t immediate benefits or rewards.
Simply put, virtue is the habit of doing the right thing.
But Virtue Ain’t Simple.
Maybe it’s our human condition.
Or maybe I’m not as disciplined as I thought I was.
It’s been almost 15 years since Aristotle blew my mind in that Philosophy 101 class, and I’ve been committed to the pursuit of moral excellence ever since.
However, I feel like I’m still decades away from living a morally decent life.
In the last couple of years alone, I’ve lost my shit, lied, cheated, bragged, taken time and people for granted, and lived above my means (not out of necessity), to name a few.
Or maybe I lack patience—the greatest virtue.
Whatever it might be, doing the right thing is hard, even when you’re hyper-aware of the benefits of virtuous action.
Akrasia: The Thief of Happiness
Has this ever happened to you? You know for a fact that Option A is the right choice, but you still choose Option B.
The Greeks called this phenomenon Akrasia, a weakness of will that prevents one from acting in accordance with what one believes to be right.
However, I’m happy to share with you that today, as I write this email in one of my favorite cafes, I chose Option A and skipped the donut that usually accompanies my oat latte.
Santi: 1 - Akrasia: 0
I’m convinced Akrasia is the devil, an evil force. It is a major obstacle to living a virtuous, creative, and happy life. These are a few ways it can manifest in your life:
You know you want to start your creative project but choose Netflix and Instagram instead.
Your drive for that business idea was so real at first, but playing video games lets you forget about the work your business requires.
You witness injustice but don’t speak up out of fear of judgment and rejection.
You want to get in better shape, but the margaritas from your favorite Mexican joint are just way too good.
You want to be a more loving and compassionate partner, but lash out and punish your partner the second you’re triggered.
Lucky for you (and me), I recently discovered Ben Franklin wrote the antidote for Akrasia—a guide for living a righteous, purposeful, and happy life.
Side note: This is why we study the lives of the greatest minds, my friend. They’ve grappled with the same challenges we face and spent a great deal of time—in Ben’s case, many decades—finding answers to the questions that plague us today.
Ben Franklin’s Guide to a Happy Life
In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benji outlines thirteen virtues necessary for a happy and fulfilling life.
I’ve included the names of the virtues and their precepts below (with my own thoughts squeezed between parentheses).