1.) “What is always chosen as an end in itself and never as a means to something else is called final in an unqualified sense. This description seems to apply to happiness above all else: for we always choose happiness as an end in itself and never for the sake of something else. Honor‚ pleasure‚ intelligence‚ and all virtue we choose partly for themselves—for we would choose each of them even if no further advantage would accrue from them—but we also choose them partly for the sake of happiness
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Although there are many people who attempt to embody the virtue of happiness‚ Bill Gates appear to be the one to do it most effectively. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics‚ he defines happiness to be obtained through “habituation or by some sort of training” of the virtues‚ a practice Bill Gates knows well (Aristotle 121). According to Forbes magazine‚ he was voted to be “the world’s most generous person”‚ further expressing his ability to exercise virtues (Mac). But is Bill Gate only appearing to
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Plato is one of the greatest‚ ancient Athenian philosophers. Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s most advanced work on ethics. In fact‚ Nicomachean Ethics was written around 340 BC. It is most likely to have been named after either his father or son‚ who were both named Nicomachus. Undoubtedly‚ friendship is one of the most important elements in the books of Aristotle’s ethical principles. Out of the ten books of Nicomachean Ethics‚ only books eight and nine are on the subject of friendship. Friendship
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in his teachings with how he describes this happiness. Therefore‚ happiness is a difficult concept to explain because how Aristotle defined happiness may differ from how one may define happiness in current society. In Aristotle’s teachings‚ Nicomachean Ethics‚ he explains his opinion on happiness. He believes there is such a thing as the human good and when one reaches this good they have reached
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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
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In book one of Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle establishes his belief that in order for humans beings to achieve true happiness‚ they should try to find balance in certain aspects of their life called virtues. To define true happiness‚ Aristotle formulates that whatever happiness is‚ it must be the highest good (49). In other words‚ Aristotle is indicating that whatever we do in life‚ we do for the sake of happiness. Furthermore‚ true happiness is the apogee of our intentions. Once we achieve true
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Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” considers the best way to achieve happiness. In every human action‚ the individual intends for it to end in some type of good‚ with most of these activities being means to a higher end. Aristotle addresses two types of goods‚ those of which are subordinate and those of which result in higher ends. Subordinate ends may only be means to higher ends‚ such as human activity which brings about pleasures‚ whereas‚ higher goods are goods that are ends in themselves. The
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Aristotle believes that through reason a person can achieve happiness or Eudaimonia. In his Nicomachean Ethics‚ happiness is achieved by fulfilling your function well. Humankind’s function is to exercise reason. This ethical conduct is achieved by following the Golden Mean‚ were one should always seek a middle ground between two extremes. I believe that life can benefit by following reason and a person could use a Golden Mean to determine the right action‚ however there are some instances where it
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How Important is Happiness in Our Lives? There are many occurrences in life where we come across happiness. In this paper‚ I will relate Greek philosopher Aristotle’s words in his book Nicomachean Ethics‚ to the idea of happiness and his contrast of happiness and pleasure. Happiness is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience” (Merriam-Webster). However‚ there is much more to understand about the bigger picture and full idea of
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Within book 8 and 9 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics‚ he proposes friendship is one of the most choice-worthy goods an individual can have (Aristotle 149‚ 1170a‚ section 7). However‚ in chapter 3 of book 8‚ Aristotle asserts the finest friendships are enduring insofar it is good‚ and the virtues remain the same. However‚ his proposal about the similarities of virtues doesn’t seem entirely correct since people gradually change over time‚ but the relationship can continue to be good and individuals
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