The Best Life

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Recommended: Aristotle on happiness: an analysis

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that the ultimate good is eudaimonia or happiness and that ergon, the human function, determines what that happiness is. While some may argue that there can be more than one form of the ultimate good other than happiness, Aristotle believes that not all ends are complete. Unlike happiness, wealth for example, is not complete and thus, eudaimonia is the only ultimate good. In order to determine which good or goods happiness consists in, Aristotle asks what the ergon of a human being is, and argues that it consists in activity of the rational part of the soul in accordance with virtue. Aristotle also provides his view of what the best life is and consists of, however, it is illogical to identify a single sort of the best life for everyone, as it should be relative to each person in different ways. Also, the life of study, which is the best life according to Aristotle, is not the only type of life that will bring about happiness. The best life of someone who is ill versus someone who is poor will be different in terms of what it consists of and the happiness it will bring. Aristotle believes that eudaimonia or happiness is the ultimate good and that the best life is guided by rational contemplation; while it is true to say that happiness is the supreme good, Aristotle incorrectly argues that the best life is a life of study and provides an objective account of the good life which does not hold for all.
While happiness is the ultimate good, Aristotle establishes the best life and incorrectly claims that the life of study is the best life for everyone, but it is crucial to first determine how Aristotle connects eudaimonia with human function and virtue. Aristotle believes that by asking what th...

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... activity of the rational part of the soul in accordance with virtue. He believes that the human function is only the one peculiar to us. Aristotle also presents a valid reason for why happiness is the ultimate good. Happiness is choiceworthy in its own right and never because of something else therefore is complete. Lastly, Aristotle claims that a life of study is the best life for all humans, however, there should be a single good which constitutes the aim of each human being. He incorrectly reasons that just because the gods are involved in study, that humans should also take part in such activity. Forgetting all the previous things he said about virtues and habituation, Aristotle claims that only a life of study will bring happiness. While humans should all aim to achieve Aristotle’s view of eudaimonia or happiness, his beliefs of the best life are unrealistic.

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