Aristotle opens his argument by stating that, ‘by saying that happiness is the main good achievable’, is a commonplace expression, and a clearer explanation of what it is was still required. This would be possible if first, the function of man was ascertainable. Aristotle proposes that in order for humans to achieve eudemonia, the overall good, they must have a function and the good must lie in the function undertaken. The function of a teacher is to teach; and a good teacher is to teach well. The human being has a function, and the human good depends on the human function. The human function involves the exercise of a unique ability bestowed upon human beings but not present in plants and animals, the power of reason. Therefore, a human being having a function, he is good if he does perform that function and performs it well. The human good is the good activity of the soul that has a capacity to reason.
Aristotle argues that a human being has to have a purpose. If they are able to do something in life, then they have a function and if they are able to do what they do well, then they are able to achieve happiness from the satisfaction of successful fulfillment of a goal. Aristotle uses the example of the horse to elaborate his point further. ‘The virtue of the horse ‘‘makes a horse both good in itself and good at running and at carrying its rider and at awaiting the attack of enemy’ by this, he means that the horse achieves its own good as well as the good of its riders by being a good horse. By this inference, accomplishment in life is only achievable by being good at what someone does.
A further inquiry into what the function can really be leads Aristotle to exclusion tactics in trying to isolate what is truly unique in human beings. Life, he observes is common even to the plants and animals. The life of nutrition and growth also seems to be common to plants and animals too. The animals share perception as well. The only life that is peculiar to man is that that which is active and has rational principle.
Aristotle establishes a fundamental connection between ergon (function) and arête (virtue). He establishes that virtue in a human being is primarily borne out of what he does. Virtue description, however, should not occur as a state but also as statement of what state it is. In this regard therefore, good virtue brings good condition into the thing of which it is a virtue and causes the function to be well done.
The argument brings to fore the following points,
- Happiness is a virtuous activity.
- Achievement of happiness is in the course of doing something not just being in a certain state.
- Happiness requires certain instruments in order for it to thrive. E.g., wealth, family, friends and power
The conclusion to this argument is, human function is the activity of the rational part of the human soul. This is to imply that all functions of the human being that originates from his reasoning function are part what he should well accomplish in order to achieve eudemonia.
Works Cited
Ademollo, Francesco. The Cratylus of Plato: A Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.
Johansen, T K. Aristotle on the Sense-Organs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Print.
