Reading and Discussion Questions - Aristotle - Nichomachean Ethics - Book One

Questions Focusing on Sections 1-5, 7 which are part of your Summary

1. Do you agree with Aristotle that all acts aim toward some end or goal? Think of one example and one counter-example.  

2. Do you agree that the final goal to which all other goals are but means is happiness (living/doing well)?

3. Why are the lives of enjoyment, the statesman, and money-making not the happiest lives according to A.? What is the happiest life? What criteria does Aristotle use to evaluate the types of lives? Note: ad infinitum means literally to infinity or on and on.

4.  According to Aristotle, what distinguishes plants from animals?  Why is it important to identify a unique human function?

Overall questions related to Book One:

1.  How does Aristotle define happiness (eudaimonia)? What sorts of definitions of happiness does he exclude?  How does his concept differ from some modern conceptions of happiness?

2.  For Aristotle, how are the good of the state (society) and the good of the individual related? By analogy, how would he relate the good of the university to that of the student, the good of a company to that of an employee, etc.?

3.  Assume for a moment that Aristotle is correct that each action aims at some goal, is he also correct that there is one final goal?  Why or why not?