Maybe Aristotle Was Right
Eudaemonia, or human flourishing, requires personal development, moral education, and a structured society with defined social roles and an unequal distribution of resources, at least in Aristotle’s view. He believed that individuals in higher social positions, with access to mentorship and material support, were best able to actualize their potential.
Aristotle argued that a hierarchical structure was necessary for a stable society, as it enabled the privileged to develop the wisdom and virtues required for eudaimonia. His own life, shaped by access to elite mentors and education, reflects the advantages that allowed such development.
Possibilities in Current AI Technological Landscape
Today, similar privileges are accessible to anyone with a smartphone. This marks a shift in access to knowledge, mentorship, and personal growth. With AI as an educational tool, the structural barriers that once confined eudaimonia to the elite can be removed, making human flourishing an attainable goal for a much broader population.
AI can function as a personal tutor by adapting education to individual needs, abilities, and goals, regardless of social status or background. This individualized model parallels Aristotle’s concept of mentorship, but without the constraints of socioeconomic hierarchy.
As an educational tool, AI facilitates conceptual exploration, critical thinking, and skill development in ways that align with diverse learning styles. Its capacity for unlimited, patient instruction supports sustained engagement with complex ideas until practical understanding is achieved.
Tailoring Education to Learners Endless Needs With AI
Understanding abstract philosophical concepts can be challenging in traditional classroom settings, where examples may feel disconnected from real-world application. For instance, a principle like the hypothetical imperative may be explained in overly simple terms, leaving its ethical relevance unclear.
When applied through AI to a broader context such as corporate decision-making, the concept becomes more tangible. An AI-generated explanation might state, "If a company aims to act ethically, it must promote transparency, fairness, and accountability in all operations." Framing the imperative in practical terms clarifies that if a goal is established, consistent actions must logically follow to achieve it.
This expanded access to knowledge enables anyone willing to engage with these tools to pursue personal and intellectual development in ways that were once restricted to a privileged minority.
Learning in Childhood: Fostering Life Long Learning
Childhood represents a foundational period for cognitive and emotional development, yet the realization of individual potential has historically been constrained by socioeconomic conditions. In Aristotle’s era, a child’s prospects for flourishing were closely tied to familial status, material resources, and access to intellectual mentorship.
Although contemporary societies have made efforts to advance educational equity, significant structural disparities persist. AI-driven learning systems offer a promising intervention by delivering adaptive instruction tailored to a child’s cognitive profile, interests, and developmental needs. Through dynamic responsiveness to individual strengths and areas for improvement, such technologies can support more equitable access to intellectual and emotional growth.
Rather than discouraging a young child's persistent questioning, AI can facilitate exploratory learning by guiding age-appropriate engagement with foundational inquiries such as "Why is the grass green?" In doing so, AI supports joint learning experiences between children and caregivers, fostering curiosity, strengthening relational bonds, and promoting a collaborative approach to cognitive development.
This widespread access to personalized educational pathways aligns with Aristotle’s vision of a well-rounded life, now rendered attainable beyond the bounds of social and economic privilege.By supporting goal-setting and intrinsic motivation, AI promotes self-awareness and lifelong development. This shift transforms Aristotle’s vision of eudaemonia into a realistic pursuit for all.
Language Barriers as Gatekeepers: from Latin to Academic English
Throughout history, language has served as a gatekeeper to knowledge. In medieval Europe, Latin confined intellectual discourse to the elite; today, academic English functions similarly, limiting access to research and education. Individuals with the capacity for intellectual growth are often excluded due to linguistic, financial, or cognitive barriers.
AI-powered translation, speech interfaces, and language-learning tools offer a means to overcome these obstacles, making knowledge once restricted to institutions broadly accessible. By dismantling these barriers, AI advances the conditions for eudaemonia as a universally attainable goal.
Aristotle recognized that the attainment of eudaemonia depends on access to resources, mentorship, and education. What he could not foresee was the emergence of a technology capable of extending these conditions beyond the confines of social hierarchy.
AI functions as a catalyst for human flourishing on a global level. It affirms the foundational insights of Aristotelian ethics while redefining their application in a more inclusive context, positioning eudaemonia as a realistic pursuit for all.
Warmly,
Riikka
