Essay about Aristotle's Ethics

To discover the nature of human happiness it is necessary to determine what the function of a human being is. A person's happiness consists of fulfilling the natural function toward which they are being directed. This natural function is something that is specific to only human beings. This function is something that sets human beings apart from everything else in the world. Generally speaking, a person is primarily his intellect. Where the spirit and desire are also important, it is the rational part of the soul that should be considered the person's identity. Aristotle emphasized that eudaimonia was constituted by rational activities that were associated with human virtue rather than human power, or honor. According to Aristotle, the rational activity has to be indicated as pride, bravery, or friendships that are mutually beneficial, pride and honesty among others.

Aristotle believed that it was important for an individual to live their life in a way that would nurture their growth and flourishing. Through a virtuous life, an actual person would contribute positively to the common good of all. As a result, the individual helps himself or herself live a successful life. If the common good is successful, all a part of the common good will flourish. Through being conscious about ones actions and living a respectable life, anyone can reach their ultimate goal of happiness, something Aristotle believes keeps everything in

In Book 1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he argues that happiness is the best good, and the goal of an individual and of those leading and governing society. Here, happiness is understood as both living well and doing well, rather than the convention sense of happiness as an emotion. According to Aristotle, happiness is achieved though actions involving reason and in accord with virtue, or the best of the virtues of there are more than one. In this paper, I will provide a brief overview of the work and its author, then proceed to provide an overview of the ideas expressed and the argumentation supporting them, before finally performing an analysis and critique of the ideas expressed.

Aristotle’s belief is that the happiness a person experiences by living an excellent and meaningful life is much more than temporary pleasure that is found and lost in a short period of time. Aristotle explains happiness as being self-sufficient and is continually sought after in practice. He explains the path to fully understand ultimate happiness is “best done by first ascertaining the proper function of man” (1097b 22-24). The function of man, according to Aristotle, differs from all other natural organism on Earth. Human beings are unique having the ability to understand and reason (1098a 1-5). Because we can reason we are capable of learning from our mistakes and will actively pursue virtue since we understand the consequences of our actions. Aristotle points out that animals and children differ in this respect as they lack the capability of making rational decisions (1100a 1-3).

Aristotle is an ancient Greek philosopher who has played a part in subjects such as mathematics and ethics. As a known student of Plato, Aristotle’s knowledge on various topics immensely affected people’s philosophical views. For Aristotle, his definitions of human happiness and a good life consist of being virtuous all throughout life. Happiness comes from being an overall good person; this is “the best way to lead a life and give it meaning” (Psychology Today). According to Aristotle, happiness is a continuing achievement. “Happiness is more a question of behavior and of habit—of ‘virtue’—than of luck; a person who cultivates such behaviors and habits is able to bear his

Happiness is often thought to be an emotional state that results from anything a person does or observes that they approve of or consider positive or pleasant. In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that true human happiness is much more than a temporary state of wellbeing, as humans are not satisfied by the pleasantries or conditions that satisfy other animals. Through virtuous activity and virtuous friendships, people are constantly trying to perfect themselves in order to achieve some greater good. This good, Aristotle reasons, must be an end within itself, and the ultimate end of human activity. Therefore, happiness for Aristotle is the final goal and the perfection of human existence, and it depends on a lifetime of virtuous activity.

Aristotle’s core argument indicated that character friendships are essential for perusing a good life and that living

In this section I will explain Aristotle’s definition of eudaimonia and its relationship to happiness, morality and the virtues. Aristotle defines eudaimonia in the

Aristotle argues in his work, “Ethical Virtue: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics” found in Western Philosophy, that his theory of Ethical Virtue, while living the life of virtue you must have eudaimonia, which can translate into happiness. This is not a stagnant state of being but a type of activity. The necessary attributes of the ultimate good are that it is whole, ultimate, and endless. This theory consists around

Moreover, according to Aristotle, human beings have desires of concerns and commitment that lead one to having a good reason to act (69). Aristotle believed that human beings “are essentially social and reasoning creatures; our natural end is therefore to live in communities and to think and act rationally” (70). As human beings,

Aristotle’s view of virtue ethics is approached in his work Nicomachean Ethics, in which he argues that when an individual undertakes some form of action it is for an end purpose, and that the ultimate end of all ends is the chief good, the greatest good. This chief good is believed to be what Aristotle calls ‘Eudaimonia’ (meaning what makes a person truly happy) which is and should be the goal to be pursued in life by all persons. This is argued to be achieved by virtuous action and by practising the virtuous means, so that it becomes a habit (but also right), in order to become happy and live good lives. Aristotle highlights twelve golden/virtuous means (the midway point between the vices of excess and deficiency) which are as follows; courage;

However, we do not achieve Eudaemonia by actively seeking it out. It is attained through the appropriate ordering and pursuit of appropriate goals, in the right manner. From this it might be said that Eudaemonia is something that is greater than the sum of its parts, and as we don’t seek it, it is something of an additional by-product of conducting our pursuit of all other goods. Similarly exemplified as, studying in university and realizing you have achieved profound personal growth. A further quality of Eudaemonia is that it is desired for itself and not for the sake of some further good. No one tries to live well for the sake of some further good. You try to live well to live well, and there is nothing beyond that. Aristotle’s conception of happiness is not just a mental state, he is asking what is good for human beings and also what it is to be a good human being. In addition, critics have argued that there cannot be a single description for the best sort of life for everyone because there is simply too much variety between people. Based on a direct translation to happiness, Eudaemonia in this sense is relative to different

In this section, I will summarize Aristotle’s function argument and examine two possible critiques against it. Aristotle argued that by understanding human beings, what they are and what function they serve, we will get a better understanding of how they ought to behave and how to best achieve our chief good; which he defines as “something final and self-sufficient, and is the end of action.” (NE I.7, 1097b 18-19)

He thought that humans chased after riches, honor, and health in order to be happy. Aristotle believed that happiness was not a feeling but rather it was an activity and that a good life in accordance to human nature and moral virtue was a happy life. According to Aristotle happiness was achieved at the end of one’s life. Aristotle believed that every living thing has a function that is unique to itself. For humans Aristotle believed it was to reason, since we alone do it as humans. And by preforming that function well is one

“He also believes self-interest is governed by seeking to fulfill certain bodily pleasures, such as power over others, having this will lead to our happiness” (Camus, 1956). Aristotle on the other hand believes that human nature is focused on reaching an ultimate goal which he calls Eudaimonia meaning happiness, also called the telos. Reaching this happiness depends solely on the goals of the individual and is a process that never seems to end. Once reached maintaining happiness is a constant struggle since Aristotle believes this feeling is temporary, however it strives us to be better than our past selves. The key to happiness according to Aristotle is the use of reasoning in the right way.