Plato and Aristotle are accused of being elitist, because they believe true happiness can only be accomplished by pursuing what…?
Philosophy
Nobility Bloodlines
Law
Economics
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is Philosophy.
Plato and Aristotle are often accused of elitism due to their belief that true happiness (or eudaimonia, the highest form of human flourishing) can only be fully attained by those who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of philosophy. While both philosophers recognized the importance of practical virtues and external factors, they argued that a life devoted to reason, contemplation, and intellectual development was the highest calling and the most fulfilling way to live.
For Plato, the pursuit of wisdom was central to his conception of a good life. In his work The Republic, Plato described an ideal society governed by philosopher-kings—wise rulers who would use their knowledge of truth and justice to guide the state. For Plato, only those who had undergone a rigorous education in philosophy and had attained a high level of intellectual understanding were capable of achieving true happiness. His hierarchical view of society, with philosophers at the top, has often been criticized as elitist because it implies that only a select few individuals could attain the wisdom necessary for the ideal life.
Aristotle, Plato’s student, shared a similar view in his Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle argued that true happiness is found in living a life of virtue, which is cultivated through rational thought and practical wisdom (phronesis). However, Aristotle emphasized that intellectual virtues, particularly the life of contemplation, were the highest form of happiness. He believed that people who were able to engage in philosophical inquiry and deep intellectual reflection would lead a more fulfilling life than those focused solely on material wealth, power, or pleasure. Again, this intellectual focus could be seen as elitist, since only a minority of individuals, according to Aristotle, were likely to pursue such a life.
Both philosophers placed philosophy at the heart of human fulfillment, contributing to their reputations as elitists in the context of happiness.