Exercise 1.

Reading Comprehension Task

Name: Alfred Ocampo Date Submitted:
Course/Section: Bsed-English (21-Men-01)

Instructions: Compare and contrast each pair of terms related to Aristotle’s Nichomachean
Ethics as discussed in this section.
1. Instrumental Good – Ultimate Good

As humans, we all have our own ideas about what constitutes good. The ultimate goal of
both instrumental and ultimate good is to achieve good. These two types of good share a
common root, but they differ in how they are achieved: through actions, morality, or
flourishing. Instrumental goods are considered transitory because it passes. Humans seek
happiness through pleasure, but this does not preclude one from pursuing a higher goal.
On the other hand, ultimate good refers to human flourishing, contentment, and living a
good and happy life. To live a happy life, one must first live a good life. Being or
aspiring to be wealthy, having fame and honor are examples of instrumental goods.
Having a good life, happiness, living well, and doing well are examples of ultimate good.
The main distinction between instrumental and ultimate good is that one is valuable in
and of itself, whereas the other is something valuable that brings good. We can consider
instrumental good to be only temporary, whereas ultimate good is the flourishing of
humans for the rest of their lives. As previously stated, Eudaimonia or happiness is the
ultimate good and defines the good life.

2. Pleasure – Happiness

Pleasure and happiness are both important aspects of human existence. In their daily
lives, people seek pleasure and happiness. Happiness is similar to pleasure in some ways,
but it is not the same. Pleasure refers to something emotional in nature, implying that
people should achieve something in accordance with their desires. An individual, for
example, seeks pleasure in the food they eat or the experience they immerse themselves
in. Someone may be pleased to have a lot more money, but this may not make them
happy or content. Pleasure is an important human need, but it cannot be the ultimate
good, according to the discussion. The ultimate good is happiness, or Eudaimonia.
Happiness can be attained by leading a rationally directed life. Living a good and happy
life is what happiness refers to. Substances can provide pleasure; however, substances
cannot provide happiness. Pleasure is defined as taking pleasure in something that comes
from outside of ourselves, such as eating, getting a massage, or smelling a rose.
Happiness is a state of mind that we cultivate, and we have control over how happy or
unhappy we are. Pleasure is short-lived, but happiness lasts a lifetime.
3. Virtue – Vice

Virtue and vice are concepts that deals with human behavior and explain what makes
people good and bad. People's good deeds and thoughts are referred to as virtue, whereas
their bad and evil side is referred to as vice. Virtue is defined as the ability to function
well, and it is divided into two categories: intellectual and moral virtues. Vice is the result
or consequence of any excess or deficiency in one's life and behavior. Character traits
that your society approves of are called virtues, while vices are character traits that it
disapproves of. The balance between two extremes is referred to as virtues. Vice is the
contrast or result of such excess and deficiency among the extremes, such as cowardice,
insensibility, and injustice, whereas virtue includes courage, temperance, and justice.
Virtues are actions that demonstrate high moral standards, whereas vices are actions that
are immoral or wicked.

4. Intellectual Virtue – Moral Virtue

According to Aristotle, there are two types of virtue: intellectual and moral virtue.
Human beings' good character is made up of both intellectual and moral virtue. The
human character and thought are emphasized by these virtues. To achieve eudaimonia,
both intellectual and moral virtues must be in accordance with reason. Intellectual virtue
is attained through education, time, and experience, and is based on intellect. Moral
virtues, on the other hand, are attained through morality through habitual practice and
repetition. Moral virtue is regarded as a skill that requires repeated practice. Intellectual
virtues are acquired through self-taught knowledge. Learning to be the best you can be by
understanding the world and achieving goals is what intellectual virtues are all about
while moral virtues are about doing the greater good and becoming a better person by
learning from one's mistakes and following one's natural instincts.

5. Science and Technology – The Good Life

There are parallels to be drawn between progressing toward a better life and progressing
forward in science and technology. S&T and the good life are interdependent, which
means they have an impact on one another. Science and its discoveries have a significant
impact on human life, particularly the good life. And it is the desire to live a good life
that drives the world's scientific development. The Aristotelian virtues must be used to
evaluate the goodness of science and technology. Science and technology can help people
live better lives, but they can also obstruct the scope and function of happiness as a
uniquely human experience. We can conclude that science and technology are tools we
can use to advance and develop, but achieving eudaimonia and happiness is the ultimate
goal of living a good life. Ethical standards must be imposed upon science and
technology to avoid excesses and deficiencies.