ing the gods and therefore, are taking part in their immortality. Humans enrich their own lives by identifying with and participating in the lives of others. Pleasure is something that every human wants to experience and is often related to how happy we are. Aristotle believes that the activity of expressing wisdom is the most pleasant. Those who have knowledge [tend] to spend their lives more pleasantly than those who seek it (1177a26). Another aspect of true happiness comes from self-sufficiency. The self-sufficiency of study is extremely high because although a person my benefit from studying with others, it is definitely possible for someone to gain knowledge and understanding on their own. It is this understanding that is the superior excellence because understanding is gained through studying which aims at no end beyond itself and has its own proper pleasureFurther, self sufficiency, leisure, unwearied activity are features of this activity (1177b20). This life is considered to be superior to any other on the human level because understanding is something that is divine, or god-like. If understanding is something divine in comparison with a human being, so also will be the life that expresses understanding be divine in comparison with human life (1177b30)...
