Intrinsic and Instrumental Good

Intrinsic Good : something is Instrumental Good : something

worthwhile not because it leads to considered as a means to some other
something else, but for its own sake good; leads to something else that is
alone (Good -in-itself) good.

Not a means to something else. Lead to another instrumental good or

an intrinsic good.
 Virtue → Happiness

In Book I, Chapter 13 of the Nichomachean Ethics,

Aristotle says:
“Since happiness is an activity of the soul in
accordance with perfect virtue, we must consider the
nature of virtue; for perhaps we shall thus see better
the nature of happiness.”
 The Good Character

People have a natural capacity for good

character, and it is developed through
practice.

1. The sequence of human behavior raises the

question of which is preeminent--acts or
dispositions.
2. Arete (Virtue) is a disposition developed
out of a capacity by the proper exercise of that
capacity.
3. Habits are developed through acting; a
person's character is the structure of habits
and is formed by what we do.
• ...
• ...
 Aristotle on Pleasure

Pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded

activity.

• Pleasure is something positive and its effect is to perfect

the exercise of activity. Everything from playing chess to
making love is improved with skill.

• Pleasure cannot be directly sought--it is the side-product

of activity. It is only an element of happiness.

• The good person, the one who has attained eudaemonia,

is the standard as to what is truly pleasant or unpleasant.
 Aristotle on Friendship

Friendship: a person's relationship to a friend is the same as

the relation to oneself. The friend can be thought of as a
second self.
• In friendship a person loves himself (egoism) not as one seeks
money for himself, but as he gives his money away to receive
honor.

• The kinds of friendship:

• Utility
• Pleasure
• The Good--endures as long as both retain their character.
 The Contemplative Faculty

The exercise of perfect happiness in intellectual or

philosophic activity.
• Reason is the highest faculty of human beings. We can engage
in it longer than other activities.

• Philosophy is loved as an end-in-itself, and so eudaemonia

implies leisure and self-sufficiency as an environment for
contemplation.
• ...
• Aristotle's Ethics [http://www.cabrillo.edu/~cclose/docs/Aristotle%20Ethics.pdf]
• Aristotle’s Theory of Eudaimonia or Happiness
[https://www.slideserve.com/nen/aristotle-s-theory-of-eudaimonia-or-happiness]
• Aristotle's Ethics [https://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/aristotle1.html 1/]