EIGHTEEN: THE ARISTOTELIAN PRINCIPLE
The Principle Stated
Accomplishment in arts and sciences reflects a key aspect of human nature related to pleasure, as discussed by Aristotle. He suggests that life is an active process where people enjoy using their abilities on what they love. Philosopher John Rawls emphasized this through the Aristotelian principle, stating that people find more joy in activities as they become more skilled and prefer more complex tasks. This means that individuals usually enjoy challenging activities more than simpler ones. The principle is evident in our lives; for instance, experts tend to enjoy activities more when those activities engage their full potential. Furthermore, as people gain expertise, their interests in activities evolve, moving from basic enjoyment to appreciating more intricate aspects.
Evidence for the Principle’s Reality
Before the 1960s, psychology was largely focused on behaviorism, which stated that people’s actions are controlled by rewards and punishments, while dismissing feelings like enjoyment as unimportant. However, in 1943, Abraham Maslow proposed a new idea with his hierarchy of needs. He suggested that after meeting basic needs such as food and shelter, people look to fulfill higher needs, including self-actualization, which is achieving one's true potential. This relates to the Aristotelian principle, which says that people find happiness in becoming their best selves.
As more studies were conducted, researchers discovered that humans enjoy activities even when there are no external rewards. Psychologist Robert White argued that people feel satisfaction from engaging with their environment. Later, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied the concept of "flow," which is a state of deep focus and enjoyment in an activity that matches a person's skills and challenges. This research shows that people naturally want to develop their abilities, supporting the idea that pursuing excellence is a fundamental part of being human, just like pursuing happiness.
The Principle Stated
Accomplishment in arts and sciences reflects a key aspect of human nature related to pleasure, as discussed by Aristotle. He suggests that life is an active process where people enjoy using their abilities on what they love. Philosopher John Rawls emphasized this through the Aristotelian principle, stating that people find more joy in activities as they become more skilled and prefer more complex tasks. This means that individuals usually enjoy challenging activities more than simpler ones. The principle is evident in our lives; for instance, experts tend to enjoy activities more when those activities engage their full potential. Furthermore, as people gain expertise, their interests in activities evolve, moving from basic enjoyment to appreciating more intricate aspects.
Evidence for the Principle’s Reality
Before the 1960s, psychology was largely focused on behaviorism, which stated that people’s actions are controlled by rewards and punishments, while dismissing feelings like enjoyment as unimportant. However, in 1943, Abraham Maslow proposed a new idea with his hierarchy of needs. He suggested that after meeting basic needs such as food and shelter, people look to fulfill higher needs, including self-actualization, which is achieving one's true potential. This relates to the Aristotelian principle, which says that people find happiness in becoming their best selves.
As more studies were conducted, researchers discovered that humans enjoy activities even when there are no external rewards. Psychologist Robert White argued that people feel satisfaction from engaging with their environment. Later, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied the concept of "flow," which is a state of deep focus and enjoyment in an activity that matches a person's skills and challenges. This research shows that people naturally want to develop their abilities, supporting the idea that pursuing excellence is a fundamental part of being human, just like pursuing happiness.