Aristotle and Happiness of the Soul Essay - 724 Words

One of Aristotle’s conclusions in the first book of Nicomachean Ethics is that â€Å"human good turns out to be the soul’s activity that expresses virtue†(EN 1.7.1098a17). This conclusion can be explicated with Aristotle’s definitions and reasonings concerning good, activity of soul, and excellence through virtue; all with respect to happiness. Aristotle opens his argument with the statement: â€Å"the good has been well described as that at which everything aims†(1.1.1094a2). This premise means that all actions aim at an end that is good. Moreover, through this definition of good, there are numerous goods corresponding to numerous actions. How can we know which good is the best, or highest good? Aristotle introduces†¦show more content†¦Therefore, happiness is the final end of actions. Now we move on to a more pressing question: how do you attain happiness? Aristotle holds that â€Å"perhaps we shall find the best good (happiness) if we first find the function of a human being† (1.7.1097b24). He explains that as trades-people have functions so must human beings have function. This function must also set humans apart form the vegetable and animal kingdoms in order to be a truly human function. â€Å"The remaining possibility, then, is some sort of life or action of the [part of the soul] that has reason†(1.7.1098a3). Perhaps now I need to introduce one of Aristotle’s suppositions: â€Å"living well and doing well are the same as being happy† (1.4.1095a19). But what does it mean to live well? A good example is that of the harpist. If the function of a harpist is to play the harp, then the function of a good harpist is to play the harp well (1.7.1098a9-12). It is this â€Å"superior achievement (of the function) that expresses virtue†(1.7.1098a10). When we apply this example to human beings it can be seen that the good human’s function to do well is completed â€Å"when its completion expresses the proper virtue†(1.7.1098a14-15). We have already determined that â€Å"the human function is the soul’s activity that expresses reason† (1.7.1098a8), since the human function is reason and â€Å"we must take [a human being’s special function to be] life as activity†Show MoreRelatedEssay Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle1464 Words   |   6 Pages An Exposition of Aristotelian Virtues In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explores virtues as necessary conditions for being happy. A virtuous person is a person with a disposition toward virtuous actions and who derives pleasure from behaving virtuously. Aristotle distinguishes between two types of human virtue: virtues of thought and virtues of character. 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