The First Book Of Nicomachean Ethics By Aristotle

Aristotle’s first book in the Nicomachean Ethics, tackles the pursuit and function of man. Aristotle believes that because of mans rationality and intelligence, there must be one great purpose to all that we do. It cannot be something as basic as the gratification of pleasure since we are superior creatures, and it must be something beyond each sole virtue since there is not a complete end in themselves. Aristotle comes to the conclusion that this final end or “good”, must be happiness and uses the first book in the series to not only state his theory, but to also be a guide so that the reader may live a good life and earn the final and self- fulfilling good on to which all their actions aim.

Aristotle begins the first book of Nicomachean

Since we as humans are rational creatures, the pursuit of happiness through solely the gratification of pleasure would be far too animalistic and would show a lack of reason and intelligence. Something which would be impossible since our rational and intelligence is what separates us the most from the animal kingdom (NE, 105b15). He does acknowledge that the satisfaction of pleasure is done to be happy, so again, it is a part of our ultimate end goal, but it cannot be the end goal in itself since it is not self- sufficient and final enough. The same train of thought goes towards the virtues. Although, all virtues hold merit and aid one in living a good life; the pursuit of each individual virtue is done for happiness. Which means that the virtues themselves are not sufficient in themselves and cannot be the end goals (NE,

Aristotle makes that clear when he uses the example of the archer: “Shall we not, like archers who have a mark to aim at, be more likely to hit upon what is right? If so, we must try, in outline at least, to determine what it is, and of which of the sciences or capacities it is the object” (NE, 1094a25). For this reason, Aristotle made the Nicomachean Ethics to not only be a book of theory, but a guide on how to live a good life for both the individual and the community (NE, 1094b7). To do so, Aristotle believed that to be happy was to be of good, moral character. One can only be a good, moral character if he acts in accordance with virtue and must work towards processing them all (NE, 1098a10). This is where the importance of learning about political sciences and having life experience comes in. Political science concerns itself with securing the highest ends for human life, but is not a precise science like mathematics. For what is right for one person may not be right for another for whatever reason. So if we dedicate our life to learning, we can govern our lives rationally and fulfill our many varied human functions properly (NE, 1099b30). Due to the fact that he believed that happiness is the final goal that is the sum of one’s life. It must encompass how one has lived up to his full human potential. “For as it is not one swallow or one