How Does Aristotle Define Happiness In Book 1

Book 1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics explores happiness and all the ways in which it can be defined and achieved. He begins by explaining that every action a person performs or any activity she participates in is seeking out some type of “good”. It is in Chapter 2 where he concludes there is a “best good” (Aristotle 1, 1094a20). He later maintains that “the best good is happiness…” (8, 1097b20). Aristotle wants his audience to suppose that “things achievable by action have some end that we wish for because of itself” because he wants them to understand that there are certain actions that lead to this “best good”. If his readers understand how to achieve happiness, then they can lead better lives. To begin his argument, Aristotle discusses ends and goods in Book 1 Chapter 1. He believes that every action and activity seeks some good. However, while people do something with a goal of happiness, it most often doesn’t directly lead to that ultimate good. He states that

In the first several chapters of Book 1, Aristotle himself is uncertain of what the ultimate good could actually be. However, in spending several chapters debating what this good is, Aristotle wants his audience to understand what true happiness is so that if just a single person were to encounter it, she would recognize it. He presumes that no one will follow him, especially if he coerces people into adopting his views or opinions. He understands that because people were raised differently, their opinions will differ. Since he himself does not know what specific action or activity leads to happiness, he wants to provide people with a guide so that the “knowledge of this good…would make us…like archers who have a target to aim at, to hit the right mark…” so that we can live the best lives possible (2,