孔子和亚里士多德都认为快乐与人的本性最为契合，趋乐避苦是人性的普遍存在方式，而探讨快乐问题，是辨明人性进而成就德性的关键环节。然而，孔子的快乐哲学更强调内在超越的成仁明道之乐，而亚里士多德的快乐哲学更注重外在实现的完善德性之乐。孔子的快乐哲学最终指向仁德的落实和天人合一的境界，而亚里士多德的快乐哲学的落脚点在于对人的理智德性和思辨活动的沉思与静观。两者关于快乐和德性的思想产生了深远影响，至今具有重要的启迪和借鉴意义。
Both Confucius and Aristotle thought that happiness tallies with the nature of human beings. Pursuing happiness and avoiding bitter has been the universal phenomenon of humanity. While probing into the ideas of happiness has became the key link to distinguish humanity as to achieve morality. Confucius emphasized more on inner transcendence of the benevolence. However，Aristotle put more attention to the external fulfillment of perfection of morality. Confucius’s happiness finally aimed at the implement of virtue and the unity of heaven and man while Aristotle’s idea of happiness aimed at the pondering and contemplation of intellectual virtue and speculation. Their ideas upon happiness and morality are quite influential with enlightenment and reference meaning so far.
