According to Aristotle in book one and two of Nicomachean Ethic, instead of focusing at making a set of rules to govern men’s behaviors, he rather highlights the type of men they should become. He suggested that happiness is the essence that leads to living well. The definition of happiness is different for everyone and it could be something that we could work towards but ultimately it serves as the purpose of life. In order to accomplish happiness, virtue ethics play an important role. For Aristotle, it does not mean that people should act because it is morally right, instead, the end of happiness should justify the way of getting to the end. As humans are prone to extremes, either deficit or extreme, it is important for them to find the balance between two.
In Nicomachean Ethics Book 1, Aristotle started off the book with that every human action is in pursuit to a goal or purpose and the ultimate ends are good in the sense of doing good things “…is thought to aim at some good” (NE I, 1) he also proclaimed that the master “good” exists for people to desire for its own sake or else all human would not be pursuing anything. “… the ends of master arts are to be preferred to all the subordinate ends.” (NE I, 1) to have a better understanding for master good, political science is the best field where it should be left out for the experienced as immature are susceptible to a notion “a young man is not a proper hearer of lectures on political science.” (NE I, 3) Moreover, he explained that there are 3 ways of life that associated with happiness which are pleasure, politics and contemplation. Aristotle discarded life of pleasure as the pursuit of pleasure only makes them one step higher than animals. He also declined the life of politics for the reason that possessing honor and virtue does not necessarily make men happy because it does not impact other people’s life. “But