Maybe Aristotle Was Right
Aristotle believed that eudaimonia, the ideal state of flourishing and living well, was achievable only through personal development, moral education, and a structured society where individuals had specific roles and levels of access to resources. For Aristotle, this meant that only those positioned within the upper social levels, with access to mentorship and resources, could fully actualize their potential.
This hierarchical system, he argued, was essential for a functioning society, as it allowed certain individuals to cultivate virtues and wisdom necessary for eudaimonia. As a beneficiary of such privilege, Aristotle’s own life, with access to elite mentors and education, positioned him to develop his philosophical ideals within a framework few could access.
Today, we are witnessing a radical shift in how access to knowledge, mentorship, and personal development is distributed. With AI as an educational tool, the barriers once restricting eudaimonia to the elite can be dismantled, making flourishing a realistic goal for all.
AI has the potential to act as a “personal tutor,” adapting educational experiences to fit individual needs, strengths, and aspirations, regardless of social standing or background. This individualized approach is akin to Aristotle’s mentorship model but without the limits of socioeconomic constraints.
AI has become an invaluable partner in my educational journey, challenging me to explore new concepts, refine my thinking, and improve my writing in ways that perfectly complement my learning style. Who else would have the endless time and patience to explain a new theory over and over until I truly understand how to apply it in real life?
For instance, during a school lesson, I struggled to grasp Kant’s concept of the hypothetical imperative. My teacher gave an example: “If you don’t want to gain weight, don’t eat cake.” While I understood the statement, I couldn’t see how this idea translated into meaningful ethical reasoning. How could something so straightforward make any difference?
Turning to AI, I asked for an explanation of the hypothetical imperative in a corporate context. AI responded: “If you want your company to be ethical, then ensure your actions align with ethical principles by promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability in all dealings.” That practical framework helped me finally understand, if a goal exists, the necessary actions must logically follow to achieve it.
This transformative access to knowledge allows me, and potentially anyone willing to engage with these tools, to pursue personal and intellectual growth in ways that were once limited to a select few.
Nurturing Genius Potential in Every Child
Childhood, is a crucial period for cognitive and emotional development. Yet, in both Aristotles era and ours, the potential for growth is often restricted by one’s circumstances at birth.
In Aristotle’s world, a child’s capacity for flourishing would largely depend on their family’s social status, resources, and connections to skilled mentors. While many modern societies strive for more equality in education, significant disparities persist.
AI-driven learning platforms offer a unique opportunity to address these gaps, tailoring educational content to a child’s curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving needs. AI’s ability to respond dynamically to a child’s strengths and areas for improvement means that each child can be nurtured according to their potential, creating a more equitable foundation for intellectual and emotional growth.
AI’s ability to respond dynamically to a child’s strengths and areas for improvement means that each child can be nurtured according to their potential, creating a more equitable foundation for intellectual and emotional growth. For instance, rather than dismissing or dampening a young child’s endless questions, AI can encourage exploration, helping parents and children engage in age appropriate way these fundamental questions like, “Why is the grass green?”
Through such interactions, AI fosters curiosity and supports family learning experiences, which build bonds and encourage a collaborative approach to growth and knowledge. This universal access to tailored development paths reflects Aristotle’s vision of a well-rounded life, now available to all.
Breaking Down Societal Barriers
In Aristotle’s time, access to education, moral guidance, and resources was locked behind a wall of social and economic privilege, meaning that flourishing was achievable only for those born into favorable positions.
Today, we have the power to democratize access to these essential elements. By offering educational resources and developmental tools to all, AI enables individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds to cultivate the moral and intellectual virtues through education, the same way Aristotle saw these virtues as vital to achieving eudaimonia.
For example, AI’s ability to guide students through real-world ethical scenarios fosters practical wisdom and empathy, reinforcing virtues through applied learning. Intellectual virtues, such as curiosity and critical thinking, become universally accessible through AI's personalized learning resources, transforming education from a one-size-fits-all model to a platform that celebrates diversity in learning and thinking.
Additionally, we can now enable students to set meaningful goals and cultivate intrinsic motivation, providing the structure for self-awareness and lifelong growth. This transformation expands Aristotle’s vision of eudaimonia from an exclusive ideal to an inclusive reality, accessible to anyone willing to engage in the pursuit of flourishing.
Language Barriers: From Latin to Academic English
Knowledge has often been restricted by language barriers. In medieval Europe, Latin was the language of academia, deliberately excluding the common population from intellectual discourse. Only the educated elite could access essential knowledge and participate in philosophical discussions.
Today, academic English serves as a similar barrier. Many of the world’s research and academic resources are only in English or in expensive publications.
Individuals with the potential and curiosity for intellectual growth remained excluded due to disabilities, language or socioeconomic barriers. With AI-powered translation, voice control, language-learning, and interpretation tools, have the capacity to close this gap. With these tools, any student can now access material that once was available only in institutions. By removing these linguistic and financial barriers, AI ensures that eudaimonia is now accessible for everyone.
Toward a New Paradigm of Human Flourishing
Aristotle rightly understood the importance of resources, mentorship, and education in achieving eudaimonia. However, he did not anticipate a tool as transformative as AI, which expands these elements beyond traditional hierarchies, making flourishing a universal opportunity. Through personalized education, cognitive development, and emotional growth, AI has the potential to turn Aristotle’s ideal into a reality for a global society.
By providing resources, guidance, and developmental support once reserved for the privileged, AI serves as a catalyst for human flourishing on an unprecedented scale. We can honor Aristotle’s insights while redefining flourishing for a more inclusive world, where eudaimonia is within reach for anyone willing to learn and grow. In this way, AI becomes not just a tool but a new paradigm for achieving the universal ideal of human flourishing.
Warmly,
Riikka
References:
Aristotle. (n.d.). Nicomachean Ethics. Analysis of eudaimonia and the role of mentorship, moral education, and structured society.
First Five Years Fund. (n.d.). MIT study reveals long-term benefits of high-quality early childhood education. First Five Years Fund.
Brookings Institution. (n.d.). High-quality early child care and education: The gift that lasts a lifetime. Brookings Institution.
MDPI. (n.d.). Early child development assessments and their associations with long-term academic and economic outcomes: A systematic review. MDPI.
