Aristotle was fascinated by how many things actually work: how does a chick grow in

an egg? How do squid reproduce? Why does a plant grow well in one place and hardly at
all in another? And - most importantly - what makes a human life, and a whole society, go
well? 

For Aristotle, philosophy was about practical wisdom. Here are four big philosophical
questions he answered. 

One: what makes people happy? In the ‘Nicomachean’ ethics Aristotle set himself the
task of identifying the factors that lead people to have a good life - or not. He suggested that
good and successful people all possess distinct ‘virtues’ - and proposed that we should get better
at identifying what these are, so that we can nurture them in ourselves and honor them in others. 

Aristotle mentioned the 11 virtues Courage, Temperance, Liberality, Magnificence,

Magnanimity, Pride, Patience, Truthfulness, Wittiness, Friendliness, and Modesty. Aristotle
also observed that every virtue seems to be bang in the middle of two vices. It occupies what he
termed ‘the golden mean’ a perfectly balanced plank on a triangle between two extremes of
character. 

A particularly fascinating moment is when Aristotle draws up a table of ‘too little’ ‘too
much’ and ‘just right’ around the whole host of virtues. We can’t change our behavior in any of
these areas just at the drop of a hat. But change is possible, eventually.

 ‘Moral goodness’ says Aristotle ‘is the result of habit’. It takes time, practice, and
encouragement. So, Aristotle thinks, people who lack virtue should be understood as
unfortunate rather than wicked. What they need is not scolding or being thrown in prison but
better teachers in giving individuals more guidance.

 Two: what is art for? The blockbuster art at that time was a tragedy. We’ve got natural
problems here: we are hard hearted: we don’t give pity where it is deserved. And we’re prone to
either exaggerated fears or not getting frightened enough. The task of art - as Aristotle saw it - is
to make profound truths about life stick in our minds. 

Three: What are friends for? In books eight and nine of the Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle identifies three different kinds of friendship.

There’s friendship that comes about when each person is seeking fun; like for
example are acquaintances for fun, then a companion to seek happiness. Lastly, people who
prioritize fun over deep connection. Like ara sa parties, friends nga ginachat kung kailangan ka
for answers, mga imention ka nga ilike ila post kung padamo damo reactions and more.

 Then there are friendships that are really strategic acquaintances: ‘they take pleasure
in each other’s company only insofar as they have hopes of taking advantage of it. Particularly
ara siya present sa business fields in which they build connections for the advantage of one
another even though they have different agendas.

Then there’s the true friend: Not someone who’s just like you. But someone who isn’t
you - but about whom you care as much as you are about yourself. The sorrows of a true friend
are your sorrows too, their joys are yours. Friendship teaches us what we ought to be. It is - quite
literally - the best part of life. Always remember that acquaintances are easy to find, however
true friends are hard to find.

 Four: how can ideas cut through in a busy world? Like a lot of people, Aristotle was
struck by the fact that the best argument doesn’t always win the debate or the battle. He invented
the art of what we still today call Rhetoric: the art of getting people to agree with you. He
wanted thoughtful, serious and well-intentioned people to learn how to be persuasive - to reach
those who don’t agree already. 

He makes some timeless points: You have to recognize, acknowledge and soothe
people’s fears. We’re keen students of Aristotle. Today ‘Philosophy’ doesn’t sound like the
most practical activity. Maybe that’s because we’ve not paid enough attention, according to
Aristotle.