Ethics: Aristotle's Nicomachean

Aristotle’s most practical contribution is the idea that moral virtue is a between two extremes: excess and deficiency . Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics - Essay Examples - PapersOwl

Virtue is a stable "state" of character that allows a person to choose the right action consistently.

Just as a knife is "good" if it cuts well, a human is "good" if they perform their unique function well. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

For Aristotle, the unique human function is the activity of the soul in accordance with reason .

Aristotle begins by stating that all human activities aim at some "good". However, most goods (like money or fame) are merely means to an end. The only thing pursued for its own sake is . Aristotle’s most practical contribution is the idea that

Virtue is not something we are born with; it is a developed through practice.

True happiness is not a temporary emotion but a state achieved over a complete life. The Nature of Virtue (Arete) For Aristotle, the unique human function is the

The Path to Eudaimonia: Virtue and the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Ethics The Ultimate End: Happiness as Flourishing