One of the significant insights given by Aristotle in Book I of Nicomachean Ethics is his differentiation between “characteristic” and “activity.” In Chapter 8 of Book I, Aristotle digs deeper into the fundamental nature of happiness. What is happiness? How can it be achieved? For Aristotle, happiness is “a kind of good life and well-being” (pg. 19, 1098b). It is “attained through virtue and some kind of learning or training” (pg. 22, 1099b). However, for Aristotle, the mere fact that a man possesses virtue is not enough; he needs to put into action, because only “some kind of activity of the soul in conformity with virtue” can achieve the greatest good (pg. 22, 1099b).
Aristotle begins his argument after “defining the end as consisting of
Aristotle begins his argument after “defining the end as consisting of