What Does Aristotle Mean In Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle was a greek philosopher who wrote the book “Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle’s view of human natures centers around humans achieving happiness. Too him happiness is our highest goal in life. Aristotle points out that most people in this world have a false view of what happiness really means. Most think of it as physical pleasure like eating, sex, or honor. These people have an imperfect view of what it means to be alive and what it means to be happy. The reason people have a false idea of happiness is because they lack virtue. Virtue is behaving in the right manner. Such as being courageous in life or being a coward. If one is courageous they will find happiness in being such while the coward would find happiness in the opposite but that is a false happiness. Aristotle takes the reader through the true meaning of being alive. He talks about many different aspects of achieving the good life and being happy; he stresses on topics like eudaemonia, classes of goods, and our telos and function in this world.
Aristotle and many philosophers focus on our telos and function as humans.
Telos is a greek word that refers too fulfillment and completion. Meaning an end or purpose in our life. What is our goal in existing? And what is our purpose? A mans function is what sets us people apart from other animals. Our ability to contemplate is one of the highest of human activities. The function of man is to keep their soul active while still having reason. Acting with reason is acting with virtue. According to Aristotle the end or purpose is happiness. “Happiness, then, is found to be something perfect and self-sufficient, being the end to which our actions are
directed.”
(Aristotle, Ethics pg.15,) Happiness is the only good that is desired for its own sake; and it is only for the sake of happiness that we feel desire for other classes of goods. Aristotle puts goods into three different categories “some are described as external, others as relating to soul or to body; we call those that relate to soul most properly and truly goods”. (Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics p.12) The three types of goods are: 1. goods valued for their own sake and not for the sake of something else, 2. Goods that are not valued for their own sake and only for the sake of something else, and 3. Goods that are valued for their own sake and for something else. The types of goods one chooses to pursue in his life can determine happiness and eudaemonia. The term eudaimonia was coined to lay out the ingredients of true happiness in three parts. Essentially the three parts are faring-well, doing-good, and doing-well. One must fare well in soul, do good deeds, and do good deeds well. Happiness occurs in the soul and to achieve and sustain happiness this eudaemonia must be exercised and continued through a lifetime. The main problem with humans that Aristotle points out is that a lot of us have a completely false idea of what happiness consists of. Aristotle shows us some common conceptions of happiness, he mentions the life of pleasure, the life of political activity, and the philosophical life. An important thing to realize is that happiness is not consisted of just one thing or moment but being active in virtue. While virtue itself can not be exercised without the presence of some essential goods. Some examples of these goods are friends, health, and family. Happiness also can not be achieved without some activity that allows one to flourish and be self sufficient. Aristotle has a lot to teach us about how to live our life and how to do it right. We must all be aware and learn of the things in this world that make us truly happy and the things that are false happiness and just consists of pleasure. The term eudaemonia is a great term to base your life and activities off of. Happiness does not just consist of one thing but many important things that must be exercised throughout ones lifetime.