Branch of philosophy: ethics on Aristotle

Essay by mimieyesCollege, Undergraduate November 2003

download word file, 2 pages 1.0 1 reviews

Downloaded 54 times

·The purpose of reading is to help us understand the types of ends, realize the functions of good and happy, and understand the function of human beings.

·The author is trying to define good, happy, and end. What makes a good life? What is the function of being humans? How does human differs from other living things in the universe?

·Key terms: instrumental ends, intrinsic ends, rational and irrational soul. 3 stages of living: nutrition (plants), motion (animals), and soul (humans).

·The topics are related as how everybody is trying to aim at some goods in their life and all actions of pursuing that happiness would aim to an end. The ends can be divided into two major kinds, one is called instrumental and the other is intrinsic.

·Instrumental is an end that was done as means for other ends, intrinsic is an end that acts that done for their own sake.

Instrumental ends only achieve when they move on to the next stage of action. And the ultimate end must be self-sufficient and final. The author also mentions that happiness ties with good, and defines good as how everyone does what his or her suppose to do and fulfill his or her function. Human being is to function the soul properly, both rational and irrational.

·Thesis: good is to do what it is expected to, and fulfill its function as a human being.

-Negative: being good does not mean being a good person such as a good student doesn't mean that she or he is a good person. Thus, the good that fulfills the function of student wouldn't fulfill the function of human being. One must fulfill multiple of functions to consider as good person.

-Positive: as good ties with happiness, one can be happy as long...