Walking and Philosophy

Most of my walking this past year has been on the familiar paths of my neighbourhood streets and woodland trails. However, I do let my mind wander at times to other destinations, say a craggy Greek landscape. Instead of cold wind whipping at my face and geese honking overhead, I imagine sunshine warming my cheeks and bees buzzing in thyme and lavender bushes. This particular image comes to mind after reading about Aristotle’s school (Lyceum) in Athens. Aristotle liked to walk with his students (called peripatetics) while deliberating his philosophies.

Of the many topics Aristotle deliberated, human happiness was a biggie. He believed the goal of human life was happiness or more precisely eudaimonia. The ancient word is difficult to translate but can mean “spiritual flourishing” or “happiness of the soul”. Aristotle lays out this fundamental concept of eudaimonia in his book on virtue ethics (Nicomachean Ethics) – his way to happiness is closely connected with being a good person.

Someday I would love to visit Aristotle’s ancient school in Athens. Apparently the archeological site has been reinvented as a lovely park. One can stroll the grounds among the aforementioned fragrant herbs and pomegranate trees or sit on a bench and read a book. It’s also nice to imagine soaking up the wisdom that surely remains on these esteemed grounds. Though even the little I know about Aristotle, I know this is not how it works. There is no shortcut to wisdom through osmosis.

There is however an alternate route to learning about virtue ethics. An option that is entertaining, funny and quite ingenius: The Good Place. The TV show cleverly showcases moral philosophy and is hilarious. One of the main characters, Chidi, an indecisive moral philosophy professor, will give you a series of chalkboard lessons but it’s so fun you will hardly notice you’re a student yourself. I know, moral philosophy and laughter! If this endorsement hasn’t convinced you, the show stars Ted Dansen in his best role ever (and Cheers was my favourite of NBC’s Thursday night lineup of the 1980s).

It may be excruciating to watch Chidi choose a muffin, but his lectures are easy and entertaining. In Season 3 (Episode 1) he succinctly outlines virtue ethics: “Aristotle believed that there were certain virtues of mind and character, like courage or generosity, and you should try to develop yourself in accordance with these virtues.” His primary student is Eleanor (the show’s protagonist) and in one lesson he tries to teach her Aristotle’s view that virtue is practical: “Goodness isn’t something that a person inherently has. It’s something she achieves through her actions.”

This is a comedy, so there are jokes with both lessons (one involves a gigantic pot of chili, the other the pronunciation of Chipotle). You’ll just have to watch it.

All joking aside, I do like Aristotle’s own words on his concept of practical wisdom. Feel free to picture him as John Stamos with a beard as Eleanor does (since it’s easier to pay attention when you picture people hot).

For as regards to those things we must learn how to do, we learn by doing them – for example, by building houses, people become house builders, and by playing the harp, they become harp players. So too, then, by doing just actions we become just; moderate actions, we become moderate; and by doing brave actions we become brave.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics – Book 2, Chapter One

The process of learning can take a lifetime and Aristotle thought most people would not get there until middle age. Or, if you watched The Good Place, it may take hundreds of reboots to become a better person. Life is complicated. Decisions are hard. But there’s an undercurrent of optimism that I like in the show as the four characters repeatedly try to get better.

In doing so the friendships also evolve as the story unfolds. Aristotle viewed friendship as an important component to happiness and in fact posited three categories of friendships. These aren’t mentioned explicitly in The Good Place, but you can see the friendships evolve from “utility” and “pleasure” to ultimately to a “complete” friendship where they help each other to do good actions. With plenty of laughs along the way.

I hope to take a walk (or “peripateo” in Greek) in Aristotle’s park someday. When I visited Athens in 1992 the park did not exist. I did walk among the buildings of the Acropolis high above the city (photos below). It’s fascinating to me the remains of the famed Lyceum were only uncovered in 1996, buried out of sight for almost 2000 years. Thankfully some of his texts were discovered much earlier and even survived at all (many apparently did not).

An ancient school reimagined as a public park. An ancient philosophy recapped in a sitcom. Wisdom may take a lifetime to achieve, but being a good person is timeless.