Aristotle believes that eudemonia is the highest good, and it is the final end. This means that there is no other end. There cannot be a means to another end; it is final. Eudemonia is happiness. It is not a feeling of any sort. It is not a fleeting moment; it is permanent in Aristotle's view. Aristotle means that if one succeeds in leading the good life, it will be an overall good life. A man will not have lived a good life if he has recently won the lottery, or had any type of fortune bestowed upon him. If a man receives bad fortune it could impede his happiness. We cannot reason and say that he has lived a good life because before the tragedy he was living a good life, or on the way to living the good life. "The happy man will have the attribute of pe

Aristotle talks about earning the good life by acting according to virtue and reason. He also adds that there are some other goods needed to be truly happy. The good life also has to do with fairing well. It also is necessary to have good external things: beauty, money, having good children. "...A happy man needs the goods of the body, external goods, and the goods of fortune, in order not to be obstructed by their absence." (Aristotle, pg. 209). If one does not have any bodily pleasures it will impede his work. He will go on thinking about having these pleasures, and not be able to concentrate on his goals. We must have bodily pleasures, but not in excess.

There are "incidental pleasures," and "natural pleasures." Incidental pleasures are moments of pleasure. For example, when one is vulnerable he might do something to palliate his pain for the moment, without reasoning his actions. "By incidentally pleasant I mean those that act as remedies. For since through some action of that part of us which has remained sound that a cure is effected, the remedy is regarded as being pleasant." (Aristotle, pg 212).

There are many particulars in gaining this happiness Aristotle speaks of. The human good is the activity of the soul exhibiting excellence for ones entire life. Human excellence is the activity of the soul according to reason. We know this because of the human function. It is not just having the ability to be virtuous. It is the activity, not just possessing it. "The function of the harpist is to play the harp; the function of the harpist who has high standards is to play it well." (Aristotle 17). "It is excellence that makes men capable of performing noble deeds." (Aristotle 18.) Arête is that quality which enables its possessor to perform his own function well. Virtue is not a part of the soul. "Virtue or excellence renders good the thing itself which it is the excellence, and causes it to perform its function well. "The higher the virtuous activities, the more durable they are, because men who are supremely happy spend their lives in these activities most intensely and most continuously, and this seems to be the reason why such activities cannot be forgotten." (Aristotle 20). There

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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)