# Chapter VII: The Function of Man and the Final Good explained — Nicomachean Ethics

> Chapter companion for Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle.

## What happens

Aristotle returns to the inquiry into the highest good, arguing that the good is the end for which all actions are performed. He identifies happiness as the final, self-sufficient end, chosen always for itself and never as a means. To define happiness more precisely, he introduces the function of man argument: man's unique function is the exercise of his rational faculties in accordance with virtue, and this activity over a complete life constitutes the good.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Good and Happiness

Aristotle argues that happiness is the final, self-sufficient end of all human action, pursued for its own sake.

### Practical Wisdom and Reason

The function of man is defined as the exercise of rational faculties, emphasizing reason as the distinctive human activity.

### Virtue and Character

The good life consists in exercising faculties in accordance with virtue or excellence, which is central to achieving happiness.

## Character check-ins

### Aristotle

Central author and philosopher presenting the function argument and defining happiness as the final good.

## Key lines

> Happiness seems more than anything else to answer to this description: for we always choose it for itself, and never for the sake of something else; while honour and pleasure and reason, and all virtue or excellence, we choose partly indeed for themselves (for, apart from any result, we should choose each of them), but partly also for the sake of happiness, supposing that they will help to make us happy.

Happiness is unique because we desire it only for its own sake, whereas we value honor, pleasure, reason, and virtue both for themselves and as means to happiness.

_Aristotle distinguishes happiness from other goods by its finality and self-sufficiency._

> The function of man, then, is exercise of his vital faculties [or soul] on one side in obedience to reason, and on the other side with reason.

Man's purpose is to actively use his soul's capacities in accordance with reason, both by following reason and by exercising it.

_This is the core of the function argument, defining human good as rational activity._

> If this be so the result is that the good of man is exercise of his faculties in accordance with excellence or virtue, or, if there be more than one, in accordance with the best and most complete virtue.

Therefore, human good consists in actively using one's abilities in line with virtue, especially the highest and most complete virtue.

_Aristotle connects the function argument directly to virtue as the means to achieve the good._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters