Right, he wrote
In The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle defines happiness as a life of virtuous activity in accordance with reason. This means doing the right things, right. We’ve all done the wrong things, right, before - right? And the right things wrong. But in The Grasshopper’s humble opinion, old Ari nailed it when he wrote that we should find the right things to do and then do those things right. He wrote right. Right?
But what’s this thing called happiness? Does he mean that when we do things right, right, we have a right good laugh? Or feel right chuffed with ourselves? And do we need to be doing the right things, right, all the time? Did he write that we should be doing the right things, right, by rote?
As is often the case, a look at the original ancient Greek word helps the understanding. The word is eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία) and from it we get the branch of psychology known as eudaemonics, the ‘science of happiness’. It’s made from the two Greek words eu ('good, well') and daimōn ('spirit'). So, a good daemon.
We talk about him ‘having his daemons’. Or about her being ‘possessed’. It’s rarely a good thing. But the idea of happiness as a good daemon appeals. It turns the crummy old song on its head – instead of happiness being ‘the greatest gift that I possess’ it becomes something that possesses me.
But for most of us it’s transient. It comes and goes, like the evil daemons of old. If an evil daemon lives permanently in a person, that person is irretrievable. If the good daemon lives permanently in a person, that person becomes, well, dull. So, do a wrong thing, right, occasionally. Or a right thing, wrong. Or be a complete devil and treat yourself to doing a wrong thing, wrong.
A couple of days ago, a young man of no more than 8 years came up to me when I was busking and said – with his Mum behind him, of course – that he loved what I was playing and was learning to play guitar too. I told him to look after his guitar, practice when he could and only play the songs he truly loves. I’d like to think that in 50 years’ time he’s in a position to pass that advice on…
…and the good daemon came.