Essay on Success
Success is defined differently by different people. The academic world has a different way of defining success compared to the non-academic world. Also, success comes out in various forms, and different philosophers came out in the past to give their definitions of success. One of the most contentious issues is on whether knowledge can be associated with success because it has been said to be powerful. Generally, knowledge equips an individual with power, but the actions that follow determine whether the individual will be successful. If knowledge was directly associated with success and power as people perceive it, then academicians would be leading the world in terms of wealth. The situation is different, and the world prides in billionaires who have not been outstanding in the world of academics but have decided to put their little knowledge into use, making them successful. Therefore, success can be defined as how an individual manages to exploit their knowledge to achieve their goals in life. The definition of success takes different forms when viewed from the perspectives of Socrates, Aristotle and Immanuel Kant since each of the philosophers led a life that presented success differently.
The lives led by philosophers involved several experiences that defined success differently and changed the perspective that had existed for several years before them. Also, answers were provided to people who were struggling to learn about success (Scott, 2006). Besides, ever one strains to succeed, but the process is full of challenges and disappointments. Socrates spent most of his years as a lecturer and encountered questions from his students concerning success. One of the most significant responses given to one of Socrates’ students was made with an illustration. After the student posed a question on what Socrates would define as success, Socrates led the student to a nearby and grabbed the student by the neck, immersing his head in the water. After the student managed to gain his breath, Socrates used the illustration to show the student how one can succeed. According to Socrates, success comes after one has discovered the power they possess and the actions that follow after recognizing that they possess the power. Generally, Socrates was for the point that having the knowledge would only be viewed as power if actions were accompanied by the knowledge to obtain results. Moreover, Socrates believed that success was an individual’s choice and that everyone had an opportunity to be successful. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Success happens differently among different people. Some people, however, believe that success is meant for some people, a claim that Socrates did not support (Joachim & Rees, 1952). Socrates believed that everyone had a chance to succeed. According to Socrates, success needs one to make a choice that they need to succeed. After realizing the need to succeed, an individual is needed to pursue their dream without relaxing so that they may enjoy the full potential of success. Therefore, Socrates was for the point that knowledge is power, but the power can only be transformed into success through actions. Moreover, Aristotle was not left behind during his times in presenting another definition of success.
The notion that knowledge is power does appear evident in most of the perspectives of ancient philosophers. However, the next bit of the notion that actions should accompany power appears to negate the belief that knowledgeable people are successful. Aristotle appeared controversial in most of his comments on leading a successful life. For example, Aristotle failed to rule out the role of luck and good fortune in making an individual successful. Furthermore, society consists of some people who manage to succeed in life despite being knowledgeable or powerful. However, Aristotle gave a precise definition of success by claiming that everyone should have goals and objectives in life. Moreover, Aristotle believed that success would be coined by pursuing realistic goals and living a virtuous life.
Success is always viewed from the way an individual achieves their goals. However, setting unrealistic goals may present an individual as a failure despite being in a position to succeed. According to Aristotle, individuals should choose realistic goals and work on them (Kraut, 2016). Then, individuals should avoid the notion that living a virtuous life does not sufficiently define success. Success generally follows people who can efficiently take advantage of their virtues and put them into action. Besides, Aristotle views success as humans’ best achievement because, unlike animals, human beings work towards goals. Also, Aristotle clarifies his claim on good fortune to imply that a little fortune is necessary for success, while a group of friends and wealth are essential for pushing an individual to succeed. Moreover, another perspective on success was brought about by Immanuel Kant.
The definition of success to many people is associated with great possessions and power. Influence has also been viewed in terms of successful, although many people still do not view influence as a measure of success. If success was to be defined in terms of material possessions, Kant was not successful (Kant, 2013). However, Immanuel Kant is one of the most successful people to have ever lived because his legacy lives several years after his death. Kant generally achieved most of his goals by leading a life that most people believed was boring. First, Kant managed to remain loyal to his time-keeping traits. Each hour on Kant’s diary was set for a specific task, and nothing was influential enough to get into the way of Kant. The presence of an ocean a few meters from Kant’s residence could not convince Kant to move away from his daily activities to see the Ocean. Moreover, Kant succeeded in transforming the world to bring the aspect of freedom and democracy.
Success needs a bit of free time to view the direction that the world is taking. Kant was, however, a busy man who never engaged in social activities. Apart from having dinner with his one friend at a specific outlet, Kant did not find time away from books. Philosophers have come out to prove that Kant was not successful because he only left a theoretical legacy. If Socrates’ words that there is barrenness in a busy life were to be followed, then Kant was not a successful man. Generally, Kant did not pay much attention to material success but towards achieving his dreams.
In sum, the definition of success takes different forms when viewed from the perspectives of Socrates, Aristotle and Immanuel Kant since each of the philosophers led a life that presented success differently. According to Socrates, success needs one to make a choice that they need to succeed. On the other hand, Aristotle believed that success would be coined by pursuing realistic goals and living a virtuous life. Also, Immanuel Kant was involved in coming up with a perspective on success and achieved most of his goals by leading a life that most people believed was boring.