Nicomachean Ethics

ARISTOTLE’S PERCEPTION OF HAPPINESS AND ETHICAL LIFE Aristotle in his publication Nicomachean Ethics analyses what moral philosophy entails and how being morally responsible affects one’s virtues and perception of happiness. He notes that in every activity one undertakes the ultimate goal is to achieve an end to it in form of happiness/being happy. Every individual item has its own use, for humans for instance, ultimate good can only be achieved once every aspect of his life is well functioning in accordance to one’s nature (Aristotle, ‘Nicomachean Ethics’ 2004). A person’s happiness is connected to what his mandate or function is and only upon accomplishing his goal(s) will one be happy. Each person has his individual goal distinct from that of others, achieving this goal will need both the intellectual and rational sides of a person. Happiness thus entails activities of both the intellect and rational person and the combination of both these activities call for the need to have ethical virtues. Aristotle considers achievement of a virtue as more important than acquisition of material goods. He believes that true happiness can only be achieved through nurturing one’s virtues that play a part in making life of man complete. Achieving a final good creates a sense of happiness, as one’s ultimate goal has been achieved (David Carr, Jan Steutel, ‘Virtue
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