ARISTOTLE'S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY

ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY
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 The subject of ethics has been influenced greatly by the work of Aristotle, which is concerned with humans’ aim of having virtue of character. The attainment of a good character therefore, translates to the well being or happiness of humans. The “good” that human actions aim is chosen for its own sake rather than, as a means to an end and this is the highest “good”. There are certain goods of the “good” that are more desirable than others, but Aristotle asserted that the search for the “good” is the search for the highest “good”. The highest “good” whatever it turns to be, he argued must be desirable for itself, and must not be desirable for the sake of some other “good”, and all the other “good” must be desirable for its sake (Ackrill, 1973). Therefore, there is no one who lives for the sake of further goal but only for the highest goal or end, and the subordinate goals of wealth, health and other resources are sought because they promote the well being, and not what well being consist in (Kraut, 2012). Hence, the “good” of humans must have something to do with being human, that which separates human from other things by providing potential of living better because of capacity guide through use of reason. Using of reason adequately makes individuals to live well as human beings.
Aristotle’s aim was to discover that which makes a good life for a man. Therefore, the notion of ethics with respect to Aristotle leads to the theory that explains a good life of a man as that which enables him to do things that a man is fitted to do, and as such, there will be satisfaction and pleasure (Kraut, 1989). The subject matter can be difficult to identify as to what needs to be done, but the conduct and specification of human mind and character qualities have to be intrinsically admirable. The value of each act is found on human welfare consequences that derive a system of morality and study of duty.
The interpretation of ethics by Aristotle brings forth the question of what is best for man through identification of two central concepts. The concepts include seeking what is “good” and the distinction between what is wanted for its own sake, and what is wanted for the sake of something else (Miller, 2011). Aristotle insisted on the necessary connection between the concepts of “good” and aiming at, which implies being the good of a thing or an agent to that which an individual aims to the desired end (Reeve, 1992). He argued that men want to live the best life possible and also the most desirable. Hence, the sort of life that is morally best have to satisfy the desirable life of an individual that is always the most morally good (Ackrill, 1973). Aristotle’s view on ethics is by assertion that the ultimate “good” must be both complete and self-sufficient to be defined as happiness. Therefore, all human actions must have an end, and the human actions are defined as that which is done on purpose and for a definite objective.
There are voluntary action performed by humans such as respiration, but they can not fall under human action by itself (Cooper, 1975). As a result, the human actions are the various actions that distinguish humans from animals since these actions constitute reason and intelligence. Actions are performed for a specific goal in which the goal offers a means to a larger goal, which is also a means to another larger goal until the final goal is attained that is desired for its own sake. Wealth, fame, glory and pleasure are lesser goals that are not desired for themselves but as means to attain happiness. Happiness therefore, is the supreme good that does not cause disputes as Aristotle asserts, and that the majority of human kind agrees upon this happiness (Kitharidis, 2011). All individuals have to speak of this supreme good “happiness”, and have to conceive the good life to become the same thing as being happy. Aristotle argues that the highest human functioning has to include reasoning and be good because this sets humans apart from everything else. The activity of the soul with respect to reason is the function of man, and the soul engages in both reasoning both on theoretical and practical aspects, and following the reasoning because this makes the person the happiest after fulfilling their purpose that is found in a rational soul.
Aristotle contends that the happiness of man is defined by determining the function proper to man. The functions must be particular to humans and be part of the practical life of rational part of man (Rorty, 1980). The rational part of a man constitutes happiness which is the soul, and the ultimate good that have to naturally flow well for him to perform his functions well. Aristotle thus, implies that the good of a man is the active exercise of the soul that facilitates conformity with virtue (Kemerling, 2011). This constitutes the actual happiness that has to persist with continuity throughout a lifetime. The interpretation of humanity to ethics as Aristotle asserts is that, the nature of man and the needs that all men have, determines the character that a satisfying human life must have (Aristotle, 1869). This provides an account of nature of man in general terms that corresponds to the best life for a man. Aristotle’s eudemian ethics tries to discover what the “good” is for a man through determination of specific functions.
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