Aristotle ’s Way: Ancient Wisdom & Happiness

Today is the World Book Day. To mark the occasion, I’m publishing this post based on Edith Hall’s recently published book ‘Aristotle ’s Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life’.

I first came across this book a few months ago, when I read Lisa Allardice’s article ‘How Aristotle is the perfect happiness guru’. Three words, two featuring in the title of the book, and one in the review, sparked my interest: Aristotle, wisdom, happiness. Aristotle was born in the town of Stageira, in Halkidiki, Greece, an hour’s drive from my home-town, Thessaloniki. Then, I studied Medicine at the Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki. ‘Let Wisdom Guide’ is the motto of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which, as a member, I have embraced (and tattooed on my body). And happiness is what I’ve been mostly reading and blogging about lately. So intrigued was I that at first, I didn’t even notice the rather sarcastic tone of the review. So, I read the book.

Not surprisingly, Hall starts discussing happiness in the very first sentence. In the introduction, she distinguishes between three approaches to the definition of happiness.

The 3 approaches to happiness

First, she considers happiness as the opposite of depression; this a rather clinical, diagnostic approach (since depression is defined here as clinical depression, a mental/psychiatric disorder diagnosed using specific diagnostic criteria). Happiness is therefore seen as a positive mood. In that context, Hall discusses the role of temperament in mood/happiness, as well as the role of meditation and medication in improving mood respectively. To which I add that antidepressant medication cannot improve one’s mood unless one is clinically depressed (they’re not going to work if someone is sad or unhappy, but not clinically depressed).

Hall then considers happiness as hedonism, pleasure, or enjoyment: an affect, rather than mood. These two words (affect, mood) have a similar meaning, but there is a difference, at least when used in a clinical context. Affect refers to how one feels at a specific moment; mood refers to how one feels over a period of time (usually weeks). If affect is the weather on a given day, then mood is the climate.

Following these two approaches, Hall mentions a third one: the philosophical approach to happiness. This approach, she writes, comes directly from Aristotle. Next, in the chapter aptly named ‘Happiness’, she explores this approach further. Here she introduces the word ‘ευδαιμονία’ (UK: eudaimonia; US: eudemonia) which Aristotle himself used in his writings. Often translated as happiness, eudemonia has a wider meaning, which is closer to wellbeing, prosperity or flourishing than simple contentment.

In fact, in modern happiness research, happiness is considered as a multi-dimensional concept. Most researchers agree on the following three dimensions:

1. Cognitive dimension (life evaluation – overall satisfaction with life)
2. Affective dimension (affect – the emotions experienced on a day-to-day basis)
3. Eudemonia (sense of purpose or meaning)

Eudemonia

Central to Aristotle’s thinking about happiness is the idea that happiness is not a given; we are not passive recipients of happiness (or unhappiness). On the contrary, happiness is not only dynamic but is also subject to our actions.

Indeed, this very much reminds me of the main principles of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): thoughts (cognitions), feelings (emotions), and behaviors (actions) are interconnected; they constantly interact and influence each other. If one changes the way they think and/or behave, they can then also change the way they feel. All the while, CBT is a collaborative and active process, as it involves learning new skills.

Back to Aristotle, the basic premise of his notion of happiness, Hall tells us, is that everyone can decide to be happy. She then introduces another concept, closely connected with eudemonia: ‘αυτάρκεια’ (self-sufficiency or self-reliance). Aristotle’s view of happiness may be empowering, but at the same time, it puts the responsibility on the individual.

‘Happiness depends upon ourselves’

Aristotle

There are, of course, notable exceptions. Sufferers with clinical depression (or other severe mental illness) are by no means responsible for their suffering and their illnesses (the same way that someone who’s had a heart attack is not responsible for that). However, we still have responsibility for our recovery from physical or mental illness (by following the doctor’s advice and adhering to treatment).

Beyond happiness

Contrary to what Allardice implies, ‘Aristotle’s Way’ is not a book about (just) happiness, but goes well beyond that. Hall explores a large part of the Greek philosopher’s work: ethics, ideals, and ideas that are not only relevant to our lives and the modern world but have influenced humanity through the centuries. Traces or chunks of Aristotle’s thinking can be found from the United States Declaration of Independence to Sigmund Freud of psychoanalysis, and from modern philosophers (Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche) to writers (Leo Tolstoy) to mention only a few. At the same time, Hall skilfully discusses and explores Aristotle’s ideas in different contexts: from ancient Greece (in relation to other philosophers of that time) to religion, and from twentieth-century culture (especially literature and cinema) to daily life (including her personal).

‘All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’

United States Declaration of Independence

Of course, happiness continues to play a central role in Hall’s writing and crops up in different chapters. For example, in the chapter about ‘Self-Knowledge’, she talks about the ‘routes to happiness’; she argues that happiness can be learned through practice (I agree; like playing a musical instrument, happiness is a skill that can be practiced and learned). In ‘Leisure’, she explains how activities of leisure can also contribute to one’s happiness (in addition to purposeful, meaningful activities – the cornerstone of happiness, according to Aristotle). Then, in the final chapter ‘Mortality’, she writes about our ‘free will, agency, and a potential for great happiness’, whilst discussing concepts such as mental illness, death, suicide, and religion.

‘Aristotle’s Way’ in a nutshell

In a nutshell, ‘Aristotle’s Way’ is far from a self-help book (despite what its title and Allardice’s article may suggest). To borrow a phrase from the book, ‘Aristotle’s Way’ may indeed offer a philosophical highway to happiness; at the same time (to borrow another phrase) it is also an intellectual inquiry, a journey, and a walk into the mind of one of the greatest philosophers of all time. For this reason, I would recommend it to anyone interested in Aristotle’s ideas.

Aristotle and the ‘aggregation of marginal gains’

At this point, however, I would like to go beyond ‘Aristotle’s Way’ and discuss two ideas expressed by Aristotle that clearly resonate with me.

‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts’

Aristotle

This is a powerful idea, which is relevant to many aspects of our lives. It inspired the name of ‘Project Aristotle’, Google’s working group assembled to explore what makes a team effective. It reminds me of the concept of the ‘aggregation of marginal gains’ coined by Dave Brailsford. The cycling coach and manager of Team Sky explains the marginal gains as ‘the 1 percent margin for improvement in everything you do’. The doctrine of marginal gains is all about small incremental improvements in any process adding up to a significant improvement when they are all added together. Brailsford’s belief is that if you improved every area related to cycling by just 1 percent, then those small gains will add up to remarkable improvement.

As a Psychiatrist, I believe that the same approach can also be used in key areas of our daily life, to maximize our wellbeing and contribute to a happier and healthier life. For these reasons, even when I prescribe medication or refer a patient for psychological therapy or to a social worker, I still come up with a list of recommendations for better mental health. I often see myself as a mental health personal trainer or coach. Like Brailsford. I am not the one lifting the weights or cycling (this will be the person who seeks my help), but I’m the one who will help them get in optimal shape or win the gold (improve their mental health).

I now realize that the seeds of this approach trace back to Aristotle.

Aristotle and lagom

Another central idea in Aristotle’s thinking (even though it is not unique to him or to ancient Greek philosophy) is that of the golden mean or golden middle way, the desirable middle between two extremes.

‘Everything in moderation’

Closely related to the concept of the golden mean (as well as central to ancient Greek philosophy) is that of moderation. The Swedish concept of ‘lagom’, often referred to as ‘the Swedish art of balanced living’ or ‘the Swedish secret of living well’, is actually based on this idea. There is not an accurate translation of the word in English, but the phrase ‘not too little, not too much, but just enough’ seems the best to describe ‘lagom’. The ‘Swedish’ philosophy places the emphasis on the ‘just enough’ (or ‘moderation’). Sounds familiar? Again, it all traces back to ancient Greece and Aristotle.

Further reading on Aristotle

Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction offers a comprehensive review of Aristotle’s work/writings.

Further reading on happiness

Check out my other posts about wellbeing, pleasure, purpose, lagom and happiness:

10 tips for better mental health & wellbeing (part 1)

10 tips for better mental health & wellbeing (part 2)

Beyond traveling: Collecting beautiful moments of pleasure

Ikigai & Komorebi: Finding purpose & beautiful moments

Let Me Tell You a Story: Tales along the road to happiness

9 Secrets to Happiness from the Cultures of the World

Hygge, Lagom & Lykke: 10 books about Scandi happiness

Sweden: Behind the myth of the lagom utopia

Buddha’s Brain: The neuroscience of happiness

Aristotle ’s Way: Ancient Wisdom & Happiness

Counting my blessings: End-of-year reflection

To follow my travels around the world, simply subscribe to the Traveling Psychiatrist (just click on the menu on the left hand side).

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Edith Hall for sending me a copy of the book for read and review.

Has anyone else read the book? If so, don’t forget to let me know what you think of ‘Aristotle’s Way’.

Happy reading!

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)