Aristotle s The Best Benefits For Human Beings - 946 Words

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle propose that everything has its own function, including human beings. By fulfilling that function in an excellent way, one can achieve Eudaimonia. The idea later becomes to be known as the Ergon argument. This paper is intending to argue for the ergon argument. Aristotle enquires the best benefits for human beings. First, he starts by saying that everything in natures has its own function. For example: the hammer’s function is to hammer the nail, or a tree’s function is to grow effectively. Human being is not an exception. The unique function of ours is the ability to reason. As long as we are engaged in these rational activities, they will bring us the good. One may ask what is the good that Aristotle is†¦show more content†¦The common thing here is food or good grades are the outside factors. Happiness depends on the outside factors; therefore, it can change anytime. Eudaimonia is completely opposite. It cannot be easily changed, neither come nor leave because It does not depend on anything. Eudaimonia is intrinsic to human beings. Only human beings can experience Eudaimonia, the highest pleasure. One may ask what exactly the Eudaimonia is, if it is possible to be identified. Aristotle answer the four questions abou t it: Is it pleasure, honor, wealth or excellence? First, Eudaimonia is not pleasure. Pleasure is vulgar. People generally do not pursue pleasure for its own sake, pleasure is the side reward obtained from doing something else. Eudaimonia is not honor. One can only have honor when others give him. It solely depends on outside factors. Eudaimonia is not wealth. Wealth is used to get something else. Eudaimonia is not excellence (Arete). Excellence is entailed to the activities that one does. However, a person may possess excellence even when he does not do anything. Excellence is not sufficient in itself. Aristotle does agree that all these things are part of the Eudaimonia. We are able to have all of these good things because our souls have different parts that take care of different function in our life. The most important of course is the rational part of the soul. As stated above, it is important