Analysis Of Aristotle's Views Of Virtue And Happiness

Is an action choice worthy for its own sake only if it would be a worthy choice, whether or not it served further ends? How, then, can such virtuous actions be choice worthy for their own sakes? This research paper will examine Aristotle’s views of virtue and happiness based on his Nichomachean Ethics. The Nicomachean Ethics was the first book written on ethics that was meant to teach us on how to be virtuous. Aristotle assumes that all of our actions should be aimed toward one ultimate end, and that is for the highest good. The goal of every person in life is too be happy and to have the ability to choose between different courses of actions; this concept of happiness is implied throughout Nichomachean. In it, Aristotle states that happiness consists in being noble and having the excellence of character and of thinking.

The original paper was based on an article written by Yannig Luthra that criticizes John Ackrill 's and Jennifer Whiting 's answers to Aristotle claims that virtuous actions are choice worthy for their own sake and that many virtuous actions are chosen for securing further ends. In the article, Luthra proposes an alternative to Aristotle’s thinking, by linking the choice worthiness of virtuous actions to the pleasure, nobility, and beauty to be found in them and that actions are choice worthy for their own sake when they have a dimension of goodness that helps makes them choice worthy, which goes beyond the goodness of mere necessities. In order to expand on this subject, the following source were cited; Abraham Edel’s “Right and Good”, David Hume’s “A Treatise of Human Nature, Book III and Hojjatollah Raftari’s "Happiness in View of Aristotle and