Plato and Aristotle both come to the conclusion that intelligence is the highest capacity of man. But it is not easy for man to achieve this highest potential. Plato says a man must be forced out of the metaphorical cave of ignorance by being turned towards using his intelligence. When initially untied, “if he were compelled to look at the light itself, wouldn’t his eyes be pained and wouldn’t he turn around and flee toward the things he is able to see, and believe that they are really clearer than the ones he is being shown” (Republic, 515e)? And again upon leaving the cave, “when he came into the light, wouldn’t he have his eyes filled with sunlight and be unable to see a single one of the things now said to be truly real” (Republic, 516a)? Every time the man is brought closer to seeing reality, it is painful for his unadjusted eyes to take in the light and he does not go willingly. It is a difficult thing for him to let go of the security of the beliefs he maintains, even if they are in ignorance. It is painful to his eyes to look upon something greater than what he already knows, and the intelligence is not obtained easily. Aristotle also acknowledges that cultivating intelligence is not an easy task. He says “moral virtue… is formed by habit… and none of the moral virtues is implanted in us by nature, for nothing which exists by nature can be changed by habit” (Ethics, 1103a15). A habit takes time to form and reflects a behavioral practice. Moral virtue, as Aristotle says, is not in our nature, so it is something that must be intentionally pursued. Intelligence, as the highest virtue, should be a habit man strives to form if he wants to live a good life, but to do this, he must struggle against his natural inclinations until it becomes a habit.
Although there is difficulty in cultivating intelligence, Aristotle and Plato both agree that in doing so, man enhances the best part of himself. Aristotle compares the best part in man to something of a divine nature, and claims “the gods enjoy a life blessed in its entirety; men enjoy it to the extent that they attain something resembling the divine activity” (Ethics, 1178b25). Plato also calls “the virtue of wisdom… something more godlike” (Republic, 158e). The comparison of intelligence to something of a divine nature shows that it is the best part of man. It is the highest human capacity because it allows man to transcend his current condition to become or understand things higher than himself, enabling him to live a good life in its fullest capacity. Man is naturally drawn to wanting eudaimonia, for if one does not live a good life, he does not have a life worth living.
If Aristotle is right that the good life must be achieved, then it would seem that having the potential to achieve the good life would make one's life worth living - otherwise, one's life isn't worth living until one achieves the good life, but that seems problematic.
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