Page "Plotinus" Paragraph 18

The true human is an incorporeal contemplative capacity of the soul, and superior to all things corporeal.

It then follows that real human happiness is independent of the physical world.

Real happiness is, instead, dependent on the metaphysical and authentic human being found in this highest capacity of Reason.

“ For man, and especially the Proficient, is not the Couplement of Soul and body: the proof is that man can be disengaged from the body and disdain its nominal goods .” ( Enneads I. 4. 14 ) The human who has achieved happiness will not be bothered by sickness, discomfort, etc., as his focus is on the greatest things.

Authentic human happiness is the utilization of the most authentically human capacity of contemplation.

Even in daily, physical action, the flourishing human ’ s “… Act is determined by the higher phase of the Soul .” ( Enneads III. 4. 6 ) Even in the most dramatic arguments Plotinus considers ( if the Proficient is subject to extreme physical torture, for example ), he concludes this only strengthens his claim of true happiness being metaphysical, as the truly happy human being would understand that which is being tortured is merely a body, not the conscious self, and happiness could persist.