Notre Dame High School
"Cinematic Wisdom: Aristotle's Philosophy in 'The Pursuit of
Happyness'"
Michael Pineda
HRE4M13 Gr. 12 Religion
Mr. Bonesteel
10, October 2023
In my religion course, we've been learning about the philosophical realm of Aristotle, a
philosopher on ethics, logic, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, psychology, mathematics,
metaphysics, and politics. Aristotle's profound exploration of ethics, the pursuit of virtue, and the
essence of companionship has profoundly influenced our comprehension of the human condition.
On this paper, we shall examine how Aristotle's ideas connect with the movie "The Pursuit of
dHappyness" (2006). Through this, we will uncover Aristotle insights into the profundity of
friendships within the trials and tribulations faced by Chris Gardner, the main character in "The
Pursuit of Happyness". Our main goal is to explore how Aristotle's wisdom relates to the pursuit
of happiness.
Aristotle believed happiness came from within us. This belief forms the basis of our analysis.
Aristotle was big on living ethically and being virtuous. We start by looking at Chris Gardner's
moral struggles in "The Pursuit of Happyness," especially the moment when he couldn’t pay the
cab fare and he ran away while screaming sorry. Aristotle valued making good choices, and
Chris's dilemma illustrates this. In this essay, we'll discuss how Chris's decisions align with
Aristotle's ethics, focusing on virtue.
Now, let's dive into Aristotle's concept of finding balance in life. In the movie, Chris Gardner
faces some significant challenges, such as homelessness and financial issues. But he doesn't fall
into despair, nor does he become overly optimistic. He maintains this equilibrium.
Aristotle would appreciate Chris's approach. It's all about not going to extremes. Chris remains
determined while also keeping a realistic perspective on his tough situation. Like that scene
where he’s walking to Walter Ribbon mansion and talking about how they’ll possibly go to the
football game and not probably. That's Chris finding balance in his life. He ends up not signing
Walter Ribbon, but he met other possible clients at the game which he signs in the future.
Now, we'll look at Aristotle's thoughts on friendships. Aristotle classified friendships into three
categories: friendships of utility, friendships of pleasure, and friendships of virtue. "The Pursuit
of Happyness" paints a powerful picture of the relationship between Chris Gardner and his son,
Christopher, embodying what Aristotle called friendships of virtue. Their bond is forged upon
the abilities of mutual respect, trust, and genuine concern for each other's well-being.
In the movie, their strong bond shines through, especially as they face tough times like being
homeless and dealing with financial struggles. This shows how important true friendships are, as
Aristotle believed, giving comfort and strength during difficult times.
In summary, "The Pursuit of Happyness" vividly portrays Aristotle's ideas. Chris Gardner's
moral dilemmas, his graceful equilibrium amidst adversity, and his profound connection with his
son collectively show Aristotle's wisdom. As a student in this course, I have learned a better
understanding of Aristotle's teachings in our quest in search of the good. Through the Aistotle's
philosophy, we learn that the film is more than just entertainment, serving as a catalyst for
profound introspection on the human condition and the quest for genuine happiness.