Defining Aristotle: Action, Soul, and the Supreme Good

Aristotle's Fundamental Philosophical Concepts

Action (Praxis)

Unlike production (which aims to create an external object), action comes to an end in itself; this is the work well or doing well. It is a process originating in man, and its effects impact him directly. In ethics and politics, as practical sciences, action is the central subject of study.

Every action has a purpose and tends toward some good, since that is what all things tend toward. All actions tend to an ultimate end, which is the supreme good that politics should pursue.

The Soul (Psyche)

The soul (Alma or Psyche) is the beginning of life and reasoning. It is defined by the concepts of act and form: Aristotle says that it is the act of those beings that have potential life. The soul cannot exist separate from the body. All living things have souls.

Human thought is a vital activity that cannot develop without the functioning of the body.

The Concept of Good (Agathon)

There is a correlation between being and goodness. There is no single, unique Good; rather, each being has its own essence, and to each corresponds a specific good. The good of each thing is in relation to its essence. Goodness is predicated in many ways, just like being.

Aristotle presents a hierarchy of goods:

• Material goods.
• Moral goods (caused by practical virtues).
• Intellectual goods (caused by speculation and wisdom).

The end of the social community is also a Good. Man is a social animal; therefore, doing well and living well is the same as being happy. The knowledge of the supreme good is derived from the supreme science, which is politics. The supreme good of life is necessarily the same for the individual, for men gathered in groups, and for the city in general.

Happiness (Eudaimonia)

Happiness (Eudaimonia) consists primarily in contemplation (Theoria), the highest activity of the human intellect. Thus, only the truly wise are happy, because the populace often equates happiness with pleasure, business, wealth, and honor.

Humans share certain powers with animals (eating, drinking, etc.) but possess other distinct powers (thought, will) that pertain uniquely to them. True happiness consists in exercising these latter powers. Men need to determine what is good and make an intellectual effort to achieve happiness and fulfill their duty.

Nature (Physis)

Nature (Physis) is the internal principle of motion and rest in natural beings. According to their essence, these beings have a peculiar nature and potentialities, which makes them inherently different from artificial objects. Man is a social and political animal by nature; this way of being is the human reality that defines him.

Man as a Social and Political Being

Those who live alone are either gods or animals. Man is by nature a social and political being who lives in the polis (city-state). The human being needs the social structure to meet needs and perform rational functions. Life in the community is preferable.