“But then ought one to call no other human being happy either who is still alive, and is it necessary, as Solon said, to look at the end?” 1100a
Socrates is proposing the question of whether any human being can be completely happy while alive, and if, there is worth in looking at the end of happiness. Happiness is a universal pursuit. We are made to chase after happiness and, therefore, are always chasing… always chasing, but never fully satisfied. I believe that we can call a human being happy, and it may be so, but it is only true for a moment. I do not believe that we can call a human being happy in the sense that his or her life is happy. We can only say, “You are happy in this moment.” Happiness must spring from the Good, something we cannot fully know until our spirits are free from our flesh. It would make sense that the Good would let us taste a bi-product (happiness), momentarily, throughout our lives. Because, by this, we come to know that what we are chasing is worth chasing. Now, if happiness is incomplete now, but we, by nature, chase its entirety our whole lives, we, by nature, do not crave something that doesn’t come into existence eventually. This being true, it is eternally important to set our gaze at “the end.”
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I don't think complete happiness is obtainable within our current perception of time. Once we are removed from our bodies I think it's possible that time ceases to exist in the linear fashion that we experience it now, which allows us to feel happiness that isn't fleeting.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I assume you're alluding to Heaven as well.. ; ) haha
ReplyDeleteI believe that happiness is obtainable, but it is something you must work at on a regular basis. It will not be easy but it is something that is obtainable.
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