PHLU
1100-002
Prof.
Davenport
09/19/00
In
Book I, Chapter Seven of Nicomachean
Ethics, Aristotle develops an argument for the purpose of human
existence. He discusses human desires
as well as an ultimate goal, which is something that all human beings share. Aristotle concludes that “the best good is
happiness” (Aristotle p.8, NE
1097b.22) and that this, in effect, is what all human beings unquestionably
strive for.
In
order to understand why we do what we do, Aristotle suggests that we “first
grasp the function of a human being” (Aristotle p.8, NE 1097b.25). He
establishes a relationship between the good we seek and the functions we
perform. “For just as the good . . .
seems to depend on its function, the same seems to be true for a human being,
if a human being has some function” (Aristotle p.8, NE 1097b.25-29).
Aristotle
then questions whether or not humans in fact have an actual function, which he
shortly answers affirmatively. After
examining other life forms, he concludes that our function is not simply to
live, but moreover there exists a “special function of a human being hence we
should set aside the life of nutrition and growth” (Aristotle p.8-9, NE 1098a.1-2). He also eliminates sense perception as a possibility because
that, too, is shared by other animals (Aristotle p.9, NE 1098a.2-4). He
eventually determines that “the human function is activity of the soul in
accord with reason or requiring reason” (Aristotle p.9, NE 1098a.7-8). This is the
sole function that is unique to all human beings. Furthermore, he claims that “the function of the excellent man is
to do this well and finely” (Aristotle p.9, NE
1098a.14-15).
However, despite our need to reach this final goal of happiness acquired through our specific function, we, as human beings, are confronted with the problem concerned with our natural desires.
First, for man to realize his nature it seems he must
somehow transcend the basic desires with which he is born; for a life given
over to seeking pleasure and satisfying the primary appetites is, as we have
seen, no better than animal existence. It
seems, then, that it is part of man’s nature to transcend the nature with which
he is born.[1]
Finally, Aristotle concludes that “the human good proves to be activity of the soul in accord with virtue, and indeed with the best most complete virtue” (Aristotle p.9, NE 1098a.17-19). Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, “it must be in a complete life” (Aristotle p.9, NE 1098a.19).
Throughout his work, Aristotle means to say that “there must be at least one end . . . which we pursue for its own sake.”[2] He believes that there is an ultimate happiness or good that we as human beings search for and this is precisely what distinguishes us from the other species of the world. Without the existence of this final goal in our minds, “[l]ife would potentially be ultimately neurotic.”[3]
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, tr. Terence Irwin
(Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1999).
Lear, Jonathan.
Aristotle: The Desire to
Understand (Cambridge University Press, 1988).