Conflictos en la inspiración aristotélica de la psicología positiva

Abstract

The authors of positive psychology have presented it as the social science equivalent of the Aristotelian virtue ethics. However, in the last two decades, numerous scholars from the Aristotelian philosophy point out relevant discrepancies between the moral theory of positive psychology and that of Aristotle. In this article, we aim to study three matters in the positive psychology that we consider in conflict with the Aristotelian moral ideal : 1) the meaning of life ; 2) how virtue is cultivated; and 3) the relationship between good life, well-being and emotions in happiness. We conclude with some reflections on the distance we find between the approaches of positive psychology and Aristotle, considering the difference between the methods of experimental sciences and philosophy.