ARISTOTLE'S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY

ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY
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The subject of ethics has been influenced greatly by the work of Aristotle, which is concerned with humans’ aim of having virtue of character. The attainment of a good character therefore, translates to the well being or happiness of humans. The “good” that human actions aim is chosen for its own sake rather than, as a means to an end and this is the highest “good”. There are certain goods of the “good” that are more desirable than others, but Aristotle asserted that the search for the “good” is the search for the highest “good”. The highest “good” whatever it turns to be, he argued must be desirable for itself, and must not be desirable for the sake of some other “good”, and all the other “good” must be desirable for its sake (Ackrill, 1973). Therefore, there is no one who lives for the sake of further goal but only for the highest goal or end, and the subordinate goals of wealth, health and other resources are sought because they promote the well being, and not what well being consist in (Kraut, 2012). Hence, the “good” of humans must have something to do with being human, that which separates human from other things by providing potential of living better because of capacity guide through use of reason. Using of reason adequately makes individuals to live well as human beings.
Aristotle’s aim was to discover that which makes a good life for a man. Therefore, the notion of ethics with respect to Aristotle leads to the theory that explains a good life of a man as that which enables him to do things that a man is fitted to do, and as such, there will be satisfaction and pleasure (Kraut, 1989). The subject matter can be difficult to identify as to what needs to be done, but the conduct and specification of human mind and character qualities have to be intrinsically admirable. The value of each act is found on human welfare consequences that derive a system of morality and study of duty.
The interpretation of ethics by Aristotle brings forth the question of what is best for man through identification of two central concepts. The concepts include seeking what is “good” and the distinction between what is wanted for its own sake, and what is wanted for the sake of something else (Miller, 2011). Aristotle insisted on the necessary connection between the concepts of “good” and aiming at, which implies being the good of a thing or an agent to that which an individual aims to the desired end (Reeve, 1992). He argued that men want to live the best life possible and also the most desirable. Hence, the sort of life that is morally best have to satisfy the desirable life of an individual that is always the most morally good (Ackrill, 1973). Aristotle’s view on ethics is by assertion that the ultimate “good” must be both complete and self-sufficient to be defined as happine...