Before actually focusing on the main details of Aristotle's argument, we should pay careful attention to the opening explanation he makes in Book I about the nature of his inquiry. The first important point that he stresses is that the study of the character of human beings is dependent on what a human being is. Aristotle states that a human is not a person that lives in isolation, but someone who also lives with parents, children, wife, friends, and citizens since man is by nature a social and political being. Humans, in other words, obtain their identity and their morality from their participation in their community, from the interaction with their parents, friends, customs, institutions and laws. Because of this, every ethical question must be determined by taking into account the necessary and political basis of human life. If one is to discuss what it is that makes a man good, we have to really consider which decisions will benefit or make the society good. Although Aristotle sees the "individual" as a part of a larger whole, he believes that the purpose of each individual's life is evaluated in relation to the other members of the community.
Although different communities live by different rules and strive for different goods, it is possible to reach an understanding of what moral excellence is in any community by studying what it is that makes up effective community membership.
Another important observation made by Aristotle is the fact that to study human ethics, we must focus on the world around us. We must focus on the traditions of our community, the accepted theories of earlier philosophers, especially those most famous for their wisdom. These theories we must study, not to only find i ...