The Virtue Of Happiness In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Although there are many people who attempt to embody the virtue of happiness, Bill Gates appear to be the one to do it most effectively. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he defines happiness to be obtained through “habituation or by some sort of training” of the virtues, a practice Bill Gates knows well (Aristotle 121). According to Forbes magazine, he was voted to be “the world’s most generous person”, further expressing his ability to exercise virtues (Mac). But is Bill Gate only appearing to look virtuous to gain more money and pursue greed? By looking at the works of Aristotle and various news articles we arrive at an understanding that Bill Gates ability to embody the virtue of happiness while dropping out of college is due to his self-sufficient
Aristotle argues that “happiness is to be acquired. . . by habituation or by some other sort of training” (Aristotle 121). The training Aristotle is referring to is the exercise of virtue and it is through this exercise of virtue that happiness is obtained. Bill Gates exhibits a variety of the virtues but the most pronoun virtues he practices are charity and industry. He practices the virtue charity by donating “more than $28 billion dollars” and by starting the Gates Foundation, a charity organization that is “dedicated to improving lives around the world” (All Lives, Mac). Their goals include social issues such as “improve[ing] U.S. high school and postsecondary education and support[ing] vulnerable children and families” (All Lives). Bill Gates started this organization with his wife, Melinda, to give back to society and help those in need. This creating of the Gates Foundation serves as a way for Bill Gates to exercise the virtue charity, since the virtue charity revolves around providing to those in need, which is the main goal of the organization. In addition to charity, he also exercises the virtue industry through his hard work while creating the company Microsoft. Writers from Funders and Founders describe Bill Gate to be a “workaholic” due to his habit of “cod[ing] all day, sle[eping] at the computer” (Vital). This obsessive level of working,
Machiavelli notes that “it is necessary to know well how. . . to be a great pretender” (Machiavelli 202). To interpret, Machiavelli is saying that it is important for someone in power to be able to pretend to be virtuous and to deceive the people. By doing so, the one in power would be able to gain the trust of the people, in turn increasing his following. But is this what Bill Gates doing to assist him in gaining more money? Although, according to Seattle Times, Bill Gates “direct[ly] fund[ed]. . . media and media programs. . . nearly $50 million dollars, which can make it seem that he is attempting to pay the media to make him appear more virtuous; however, it does not appear he is doing so for financial gain (Doughton). Instead, Bill Gates is paying the media to “help spur coverage of global health, development and education issues” (Doughton). Proving his use of the media is not to deceive the people but to inform them of important issues that must be addressed to the public, further emphasizing his virtuous nature. In addition, Bill Gates also makes it clear that he is not overtaken by the vice greed and in pursue of only money. This is made evident due to him “pledging to give away 95 percent of [his] fortune” to charity (Bill and Melinda). His willingness to give away that huge chunk of his wealth to