Section C. The Aristotelian Philosophy on The Good Life.
The Final Good For Man in Aristotle's Ethical Theory
"Living Successfully"
Every young man asks the same question, "How can I make my life successful?" First one must define success, which Aristotle said is the best thing a man can do with his life. He also said that in order to obtain this success one must have a goal, or objective for their life. Success does not directly equal wealth, power, or having virtue without exercising that virtue. According to Nicomachean Ethics, there are three reasons for living. One, enjoying refined pleasures, which is best defined as a life of pleasant amusement, however Aristotle says that no one in their right mind would chose that life. Immature fun, such as that which children enjoy, living in order to sleep, eat, have sex, or work an unfulfilling and unrewarding job are all paths of this type of life. The second reason to live is to earn a good name for yourself in your eyes and in the eyes of the community, such as a career in public service. Finally, to appreciate and understand the universe in which we find ourselves, such as a philosopher. Everyone will chose one of these three ways of life, however one must have personal and financial independence to do so.
"Happiness" equals "success" and "success" equals "blessing." Success (eudaimonia in Greek) is translated as happiness in English, and happy (makarios) is translated as blessed, or enjoying a share of the divine, living like a god. Animals cannot enjoy success, because they have no share of the divine, and the gods enjoy a different type of ideal existence.
In order to attain success you must use your skills and knowledge to pursue certain objectives for the sake of higher objective. For example, a ...