Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

PHL100-T0401-SUM#2-MOSSMAN-PATRICK

In book 1 of The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that The Good for a human is not a state of being, but instead virtuous activity. Aristotle first states that each field of human accomplishment seeks some sort of end. He continues that ends can be desired as a means to further ends, simply as ends in themselves, or both. Accordingly, the final end, The Good that is being ultimately sought, would be that which is the end to which other ends are directed towards, and is desired solely for itself (NE. 1097a15-1097b, pp.10). Aristotle then states that The Good would be self-sufficient, and defines a thing as self-sufficient when it, on its own, makes life so fulfilled nothing more can be meaningfully added.

This is because The Good and Happiness have been ill-defined so far, having only outlined that Happiness must be what is finally sought. Without knowing the nature of either in sufficient detail, it is meaningless to define one as the other (NE. 1097b20-25, pp.11). Aristotle then posits that this nature could be found if we determined the function of mankind, as The Good has been thought to reside in the function of a given activity or thing. Firstly, Aristotle sets out to prove that Man has a function at all. He begins by referring to various jobs, such as carpenters and tanners as having functions, and then uses eyes, feet, and other body parts as similar examples. It follows for Aristotle that mankind similarly has a function. Here, It should be remembered that Aristotle’s ‘function’ is something which is unique to its possessor. Next, Aristotle begins to narrow down what Man’s function is. He discards that simple life and growth is Man’s function, as plants do the same, and he discards that living a perceptive life is Man’s function, as animals do the same. What Aristotle finds remains after this narrowing is that living life in accordance with reason, specifically the activity of reasoning must be the function of mankind(NE. 1097b25-1098a5,

To begin, Aristotle points out that we can qualify something as a simply itself, or a ‘good’ instance of itself when excellence is achieved. The example is given that lyre player plays the lyre, and a good lyre player plays well. Aristotle elaborates that an function is in accordance with The Good when it is performed in accordance with its appropriate virtue. In this case, recalling that the function of a man is activity of the soul implying a rational principle, it can be seen that the function of a Good man is to do so with excellence and rationality, the chosen virtue (NE. 1098a5-10, pp.11-12). Aristotle then concludes that Goodness is the activity of the soul exhibiting virtue. Aristotle then links this back to his earlier argument on Happiness, saying that if this is done throughout one’s life, happiness will be achieved, implying that this is due to the link between the final end and The Good. Here it can be seen that Aristotle has subtly reversed the assumed relationship between the two, now showing that living The Good life will bring Happiness, not simply that Happiness is The Good life (NE. 1098a10-20,