Hobbes argues that human happiness or 'felicity' is 'continual success in obtaining those things which a man from time to time desireth, that is to say, continual prospering' ('Leviathan', ch.6). Aristotle takes a different view, identifying happiness or eudaimonia with an internal state of the individual, namely 'activity of the soul (psuche) in accordance with virtue' (Nicomachean Ethics, I.7). I do not fully understand the exact contrast between Aristotle and Hobbes despite reading the texts carefully. Can anyone explain it ?

Hobbes argues that the human good or 'felicity' is 'continual success in obtaining those things which a man from time to time desireth, that is to say, continual prospering' ('Leviathan', ch.6). Aristotle takes a different view, identifying the human good or eudaimonia with an internal state of the individual, namely 'activity of the soul (psuche) in accordance with virtue' (Nicomachean Ethics, I.7). I do not fully understand the exact contrast between Aristotle and Hobbes despite reading the texts carefully. Can anyone explain it ?

Hobbes argues that human happiness is “continual success in obtaining the things you want when you want them”. Aristotle does not fully agree with this conception of human happiness, arguing that a life based merely on satisfying our appetites by acquiring things is unbecoming of humanity.

Hobbes argues that human happiness or 'felicity' is 'continual success in obtaining those things which a man from time to time desireth, that is to say, continual prospering' ('Leviathan', ch.6). Aristotle takes a different view, identifying happiness or eudaimonia with an internal state of the individual, namely 'activity of the soul (psuche) in accordance with virtue' (Nicomachean Ethics, I.7). I do not fully understand the exact contrast between Aristotle and Hobbes despite reading the texts carefully. Can anyone explain it ?

Hobbes argues that human happiness is “continual success in obtaining the things you want when you want them”. Aristotle disagrees with this conception of human happiness, arguing that a life based merely on satisfying our appetites by acquiring things is unbecoming of humanity.

Hobbes argues that human happiness is “continual success in obtaining the things you want when you want them”. Aristotle does not fully agree with this conception of human happiness, arguing that a life based merely on satisfying our appetites by acquiring things is unbecoming of humanity.