Summary

The Nicomachean ethics is a research based on the nature of a better life for human beings. Human beings aim at certain good things in their lives regardless of the methods that they use in order to achieve those things (Aristotle, 1999). The good things that human aim for are categorized into four categories which are: complete, self-sufficient, final and continuous. Happiness is above all the best thing that all human beings aim for, even though it is sometimes hard for many to be happy.

The nature of human happiness depends on the goals that one has in his or her life. A person who is happy must have achieved his goals thus living peacefully without any worries at all. Human happiness is usually in one’s soul thus for one to be happy, his or her soul must be happy too (Aristotle, 1999). Different ethical virtues allow a person to be able to lead either a happy or sad life, simply because, virtues direct a person according to the way he or she is supposed to live.

Different virtues allow people to be able to achieve happiness which is mainly their main goal. Bravery, is a virtue which allows a person to do whatever he is supposed to do without, and to fear whatever it is that he or she is supposed to fear. Thus when is brave, he will be able to achieve happiness without any problems at all (Aristotle, 1999). On the other hand, temperance is a virtue which makes a person to have bodily pleasures. Thus when one is not able to achieve whatever his body wants, then he may not be happy. Hence virtues determine if one will be happy or not.

Reference

Aristotle, (1999). Nicomachean Ethics. Batoche Books.