What is Good Should Be Your Goal [Ethics 7]

What is Good Should Be Your Goal

Thinking with Aristotle

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“Let us again return to the good we are seeking, and ask what it can be. It seems different in different actions and arts; it is different in medicine, in strategy, and in the other arts likewise. What then is the good of each? Surely that for whose sake everything else is done. In medicine this is health, in strategy victory, in architecture a house, in any other sphere something else, and in every action and pursuit the end; for it is for the sake of this that all men do whatever else they do. Therefore, if there is an end for all that we do, this will be the good achievable by action, and if there are more than one, these will be the goods achievable by action.”

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1.7

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Dear friend,

Warm greetings to each of you, my valued companion in our quest for wisdom. I am thrilled to bring you another letter from Wisdom Epistles, where we explore the profound insights found in Aristotle's teachings.

Aristotle continues to discuss the concept of the "good" and its connection to human actions. He starts this section by acknowledging that the good appears to be different in different activities and arts. For example, in medicine, the good is health, in strategy, it is victory, and in architecture, it is a well-built house. Aristotle argues that the good of each activity or pursuit is the ultimate goal for which the action is done.

He also goes on to explain that, although there may be multiple ends or goods in different contexts, there must be a chief or final good that is sought for its own sake and not for the sake of something else. Aristotle identifies this chief good as happiness, which is always desirable in itself and never for the sake of any other external goods like honor, pleasure, or wealth. Happiness is the ultimate end of human action and pursuit, which is still a guiding force of all the smaller actions that we take in different domains.

Now, in a bustling city, a lawyer named Emily was consumed by the fast pace of her profession. One day, she stumbled upon a group of children captivated by a street artist's paintings. Intrigued by this, Emily joined them and asked what brought them such joy. A spirited girl named Ash explained that the paintings were a gateway to happiness in their lives. They found happiness in connecting with their imagination, discovering new perspectives, and sharing the experience with others. And after this encounter, Emily went home thinking more deeply about the very purposes of the activities that she was busily involved with. She began noticing that so much of her life was spent on doing the things that were only remotely related to her happiness, and therefore she learned that much of her energy was used for shallow goods, not for the ultimate good.

So, why don’t you think about these for yourself this week:

1. What are you busy with these days? Do those activities align with your ultimate goal of happiness, or are you pursuing shallow goods that may not contribute to your overall well-being in the long run?

2. How can you prioritize and allocate your time and energy towards the activities that align more closely with the chief good of happiness?

3. Are there any moments of wonder or simple pleasures that you have been overlooking in the midst of your busy life? How can you cultivate a greater sense of appreciation for them in the busyness of life?

Stay tuned for the next installment of wisdom, where we will continue our exploration of Aristotle's teachings and their profound implications for our lives.

Until then, may your reflections be deep, and may you soon discover the ultimate goal of your actions.

Warm regards,

Aristotle's Disciple

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