HAPPI N E S S A ND

U LT I M A T E P U R P OS E
MADO NNA V. A LV AR EZ
SANCHIA
HAPPINESS AND ULTIMATE PURPOSE
ARISTOTLE BEGINS HIS DISCUSSION OF ETHICS BY SHOWING THAT EVERY ACT THAT A PERSON DOES IS
DIRECTED TOWARD A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AIM,, OR WHAT GREEKS CALLED TELOS. THERE IS A PURPOSE WHY
ONE DOES SOMETHING, AND FOR ARISTOTLE, A PERSON’S ACTION MANIFEST A GOOD THAT SHE ASPIRES FOR. EVERY
PURSUIT OF A PERSON HOPES TO ACHIEVE A GOOD. ONE EATS FOR PURPOSE OF THE GOOD THAT IT GIVES
SUSTENANCE TO THE BODY. A PERSON PURSUE A CHOSEN CAREER, AIMING FOR A GOOD, THAT IS TO PROVIDE A
BETTER FUTURE FOR HER FAMILY. A PERSON WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WHICH IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO HER. EVEN A
DRUG USER “THINKS” THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE WILL CAUSE HER GOOD. THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN
USING DRUGS IS GOOD BUT A “DRUG ADDICT” WOULD WANT TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH ACT IS GOOD. THEREFORE,
FOR ARISTOTLE THE GOOD IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE TELOS OR PURPOSE FOR WHICH ALL ACTS SEEK TO ACHIEVE.

 TELOS IS THE ANCIENT GREEK TERM FOR AN END, FULLFILMENT,

COMPLETION, GOAL OR AIM; IT IS THE SOURCE OF THE MODERN
AWORD “TEOLOGY”
HAPPINESS AND ULTIMATE PURPOSE
• ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT AN INDIVIDUAL DOES ACTION AND PURSUITS IN LIFE AND
CORRESPONDINGLY EACH OF THESE ACTIVITIES HAS DIFFERENT AIMS. ARISTOTLE IS AWARE THAT ONE
DOES AN ACT NOT ONLY TO ACHIEVE A PARTICULAR PURPOSE BUT ALSO BELIEVES SUCH PURPOSE CAN
BE UTILIZED FOR A HIGHER GOAL OR ACTIVITY, WHICH THEN CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVED AN EVEN HIGHER
PURPOSE AND SO ON. IN OTHER WORDS, THE DIFFERENT GOODS THAT ONE PURSUES FROM HIERACHY OF
TELOI (PLURAL OF TELOS).
HAPPINESS AND ULTIMATE PURPOSE
• ARISTOTLE SAYS:
...BUT A CERTAIN DIFFERENCE IS FOUND AMONG ENDS; SOME ARE ACTIVITIES, OTHERS ARE PRODUCTS APART
FROM THE ACTIVITIES THAT PRODUCE THEM. WHERE THERE ARE ENDS APART FROM ACTIONS, IT IS THE NATURE
OF THE PRODUCTS TO BE BETTER THAN THE ACTIVITIES. NOW, AS THERE ARE MANY ACTIONS, ARTS, AND SCIENCE,
THEIR EDS ALSO ARE MANY; THE END OF THE MEDICAL ART IS HEALTH, THAT IS SHIPBUILDING A VESSEL, THAT OF
STRATEGY VICTORY, THAT OF ECONOMICS WEALTH. BUT WHERE SUCH ARTS FALL UNDER A SINGLE CAPACITY-AS
BRIDE-MAKING AND THE OTHER ARTS CONCERNED WITH THE EQUIPMENT OF THE HORSES FALL UNDER THE ART OF
RIDING, AND THIS AND EVERY MILITARY ACTION UNDER STRATEGY. IN THE SAME WAY OTHER ARTS FALL UNDER
YET OTHERS – IN ALL OF THESE, THE ENDS OF THE MASTER ARTS ARE TO BE PREFERRED TO ALL THE SUBORDINATE
ENDS; FOR IT IS FOR THE STATE OF THE FORMER THAT LATTER IS PURSUED.
HAPPINESS AND ULTIMATE PURPOSE