The Relationship between Pleasure and Meaning of Life from Aristotle's Point of View

The aim of the present article is to examine the meaning of life from Aristotle’s point of view and the role of pleasure in achieving that meaning using a descriptive- analytic method. Aristotle makes a deep connection between pleasure and meaning. At first he introduces the achievement of happiness as the meaning and ultimate goal of life and then he states the relationship between pleasure and the meaning of life. He considers virtue as the way to reach fulfilled life. Virtues are classified into intellectual and moral. The intellectual ones are considered primary in achieving the goal of fulfilled life because they are limited to human beings and therefore provide pure pleasure. He views pleasure as the necessary but insufficient condition for fulfilled life. In fact, we do not live to achieve pleasure; we live to achieve the ultimate fulfilled life filled with pure pleasure. Part of his discussions on psychology deals with the immaterial and immortal nature of intellect. On this basis, it seems that he considers the relationship between pleasure and fulfilled life a relationship which endures and stays stable after death.