Striving for Happiness and its Impact on Family Stability: An Exploration of the Aristotelian Conception of Happiness

Abstract

In Western countries, the ideal of a stable nuclear family is becoming a feature of the past. Instead, families comprising couples living together with their children have become increasingly complex units, as have the multitude of factors impacting on individuals and their relationships. Economic changes and secularization are two examples of dominant causes of instability. In light of these complexities, this article explores the Aristotelian conception of happiness and its association with family stability. It is argued that it is not the endeavor to be happy that contributes to unstable relations, but the current relative unwillingness to support and share in the interest of a partner.