Nicomachean Ethics

Md Ashraful Alam

PHIL 120W-08

Prof. Norton

Paper #1

Aristotle is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind. He made contributions

to Logic, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Botany, Politics, Medicine and Ethics as well. The

Nicomachean Ethics is one of the most important books in the history of Ethics. In this book, as

a philosopher Aristotle asked himself ‘what does human being want from life?’ He answered this

question with an idea termed as ‘eudemonia’. Human function, the rational part of the soul,

habituation, character, virtue, all these aspects are directly tied up with ‘eudemonia’.

The Greek word ‘eudamonia’ is usually translated as ‘happiness’. However unlike

happiness, eudemonia is not a state of being but an action of living well. It can also be translated

as ‘blessedness’ or ‘well-being’. According to dictionary, ‘eudemonia’ means ‘a contented state

of being happy, healthy and prosperous’. This word can almost be rendered in English as good

spirits. This implies all the good things that make a person to be in good spirits. As for example:

being successful in career, having good friends in life, avoiding unhealthy lifestyle etc.

In everyday life, from pursuing pleasure to avoiding pain, we ultimately aim to achieve

happiness. However how to define happiness and how to obtain happiness is a widely debated

issue. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle gives his detailed view on happiness. According to

Aristotle, happiness is the highest achievable good in human life. Although highest good might

be different depending on the activity, the highest good is the goal of all that we do. Happiness is

the highest goal because it is an end desired entirely for its own sake, and it is self-sufficient. In

Nicomachean Ethics Book 1, Chapter 2, Aristotle says,

“If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake

(everything else being desired for the sake of this), and if we do not choose everything for the...