Aristotle's Account Of Human Good And Human Function

Discuss about the Aristotle's Account of Human Good and Human Function.

The view on human good is able to differ according to different people. When reviewing the view according to Aristotle, Socrates and Plato, there are some clear differences which are viewed but they sometimes have common basis. According to Aristotle, human good is not achieved by solely learning the different principles but through practice of what is good. There are different ways to view what is good for human and different definitions are able to exist. Initially, Socrates and Plato had their views on human good. Aristotle came in and provided his views and understanding, which at some point he was able to agree with Socrates and Plato while at other tomes disagreeing with their views. This paper will analyze the view of human good and functioning according to Aristotle and the way be uses Plato and Socrates in his argument.

Aristotle is able to use the different human good virtues in order to explain his understanding of these factors and the way the affect the human functioning[1]. The main focus of Aristotle is whether there is any of the human good which is higher than others. Each of the human good according to Aristotle has its own characteristic, which are able to define it. These characteristics are therefore used to judge them virtues and the way they should function when applied. The major question, which Aristotle is able to raise in his argument, is on the function or work of human being in life. Aristotle uses the psychological and biological ends in order to satisfy his different arguments to support his main points on the account of human good. Rationality in soul is a key factor, which is able to enhance the good in human being. Aristotle is able to argue that the performance of every virtue well requires the use of soul[2]. He also touches ion the nature of happiness as part of the human good. He is able to conclude that each person happiness is unique to themselves and therefore able to define their own happiness. Nevertheless, Aristotle adds that the happiness is not a virtue and activities are the major component of being happy.

The perfection of man and his happiness are viewed the same by Aristotle and Plato. Additionally, Aristotle goes ahead to view the human perfections in more other ways[3]. According to Aristotle, the main question, which the people should focus on, is what is composed on human good or simply what happiness constitutes. Ethics is one of the key area which need to be analyzed in details in order to achieve the happiness in human life. In Aristotle’s analysis of ethics, he is able to follow the key points and arguments of Socrates such at the Metaphysics[4]. Nevertheless, some key difference can also be found in the analysis of what Socrates, Plato and Aristotle has to say. According to Aristotle, ethics is not a theoretical approach. This means that these factors cannot be theoretically practices and practical expression must be done. He is able to insist that the need to acquire knowledge is able to lead to the question of what is good for human being. This leads to the flourishment of the learner. In his description of human good, Aristotle does not only look compiling a list of the good items since any person can do that. Aristotle is able to focus on more difficult part of the human good where he raises the need for knowledge of what human good factors is good than others. In this case, Aristotle is able to ascertain that all the factors are important. Nevertheless, he insists that the importance of the factors is able to change according to the different situations, which they are applied upon[5]. In addition, Aristotle is able to raise the question on whether these factors are desirable to others and the way they can apply them. With the different needs in different people, Aristotle is able to conclude that the people with the needs can therefore determine the importance of these factors individually.

Aristotle's View on Human Good and Function

Moreover, Aristotle identifies that the human good factors need analysis from the individual perspective in order to arrive at the key solution of the way they are important. According to him, the highest human good has three key characteristics, which it has to meet. First, according to him this good must have be desirable for itself. This mean that it must be able satisfy its own needs. Secondly, the need should not be desirable for the sake of some other good. This means that it should be able to stand for its own use and benefit. Lastly, all other goods should be desirable for this good sake. This means that the other goods should be able to support the wellbeing of this good. The good for human being must be able to meet these specific characteristics according to Aristotle.

In addition, although Aristotle is able to agree that happiness from its origin has two components of well and spirit, he does not refer to the spirit component in his explanation of the human good and happiness. He is able to argue that living well which is likely to lead to the happiness is controlled by the human state of mind. This means that whatever one is able to set in his or her mind will be able to lead to the human good and more specifically the happiness. Moreover, he is able to agree that each person’s goal is to live to the state of happiness. He adds that other subordinate needs are able to accompany the state of mind in order to achieve the required level of happiness. These include the wealth, health and additional resources which are able to promote the well-being of the human. In addition, Aristotle is able to insist that without the determination of the good and the happiness, the additional subordinate goods will not help one to achieve the state of happiness. He concludes that these subordinate goods have little influence on the happiness state of the people[6]. The mind is controlled by the psychological emotions and therefore attaining the human good is a function of the biological and psychological component[7]. He insists that the human good is a component of human soul, which is responsible for the growth and reproduction, and perceptions. These factors are able to play a key role in the achievement of the human good and happiness for the human beings.

Comparison to Plato and Socrates

In addition, Aristotle is able to insist that the feeling of happiness is controlled by oneself. This is the main point when he refers the happiness has one own. This means that one has to control the state of happiness buy identifying the different characteristics of identifying the good and doing it. This helps to maintain the different state of one to attain the good. The theory he uses is based on refining oneself position and what one is able to think about the happiness. He is able to show that living well which is able to lead to the happiness is a state of doing something and not simply a state or a condition which one is able to attain. In these entire factors, Aristotle is able to show that the soul is critical in attaining the happiness and ensuring that the human good is attained[8]. He is able to add that the lifelong activities and virtues of the rational part of the soul are able to play a critical role in attaining the state of living well and ensuring happiness is attained.

In addition, Aristotle is able to add that the clear road to happiness is also coupled with other factors such as friends, wealth and power. He argues that if one is lacking these supportive [9]components, the state of happiness is usually endangered. The major question, which he is able to raise in this argument, is why it has to be like that while the state of happiness is controlled by the soul. He is able to note that the state of happiness will only diminish when the supply of these goods is absent which are able to lead to attaining of a virtuous activity. This means that the supportive parts of attaining the happiness are key in the human good[10]. They help to support the state of soul in attaining the happiness.

In my view, the human good depend on ethics which are able to guide the human life and functioning. The supportive ethical characters are as well important to enhance the functioning of human good in the society. Moreover, the way Aristotle supports the happiness and living good will at time require the good fortunes which can lead to the excellence in human being state of happiness. In conclusion, he is able to set out that the state of highest good does not come by chance and requires one to work out in order to attain the state and this is the truth of achieving a happy life.

In conclusion, Aristotle is able to offer his own account of what is composed in human good and the requirement of attaining that status. In his argument, it is clear that the state is worked out by the individual and does not only come by chance. In addition, supportive requirements are in many cases needed to help attain the happiness status of the soul. Ethics and virtues are able to play a bigger role for the state of soul to attain the happiness and leading to the human good. Moreover, wealth, friends and health are other key factors which are coupled together to enhance the state of soul to attained this required state of happiness.

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