Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

What is that end or goal for which we should direct all of our activities? Eudaimonia, inherently translated as “happiness,” carries implications of accomplishment and contentment. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, happiness is not described as an interior emotion, but as an activity. Happiness is a subject that can be assessed just as precisely by an onlooker as by the person being observed.
“Happiness, above all else, is held to be; for this we choose always for itself and never for the sake of something else, but honor, pleasure, reason, and every virtue we choose indeed for themselves, but we choose them also for the sake of happiness, judging that by means for them we shall be happy.”(p. 54). For Aristotle, happiness is our highest goal.
A division of external goods would include wealth, fame, honor, and power. Goods of the body could include health, good looks, physical strength, etc. Good of the soul may equate to virtue, knowledge, creativity and appreciation. An issue arises when defining the ways in which these goods are linked to individual happiness. Aristotle's view is that certain goods are essential requirements for happiness and that others are superfluities that promote or fill out a good life for a virtuous person. However, it is the control and use of virtue that is the core component of happiness. A virtuous person alone can reach happiness and the virtuous person can certainly not be unhappy, even in the presence of hardship that keeps him from being happy or blessed. Therefore, happiness combines components that we have greater control over and with elements that we have smaller
If someone performs a task that is intended to be performed and does it well, then that action has good quality. “Since happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue, we must consider the nature of virtue, for perhaps we shall thus see better the nature of happiness.”(p.63) According to Aristotle, human virtue means virtue of the soul, just like human happiness means happiness of the soul. For example, a final end could rest in an individual’s occupation. If an individual enjoys their job, Aristotle would consider them, as acting sensibly. Furthermore, some may believe that for a doctor the final end would be to help sick individuals. Even if the doctor loves their work, the happiness they get out of making people feel better is not their only reason for doing their job. This doctor is living so he can treat a person, which correspondingly generates his wealth. Nevertheless, wealth alone cannot be the final end, since wealth itself does and means nothing unless the wealth is used in a particular way to bring about a feeling of happiness. The doctor may then choose to use his wealth in such a way that will make his family have a better life, such as buying a house. This being a virtuous act, could also be seen as another action which some may believe is what brings a man to a state of happiness. But even by creating a better life for his children, the doctor still hasn’t reached