Happiness is a world that is often characterized as subjective and/or synonymous with success, which can be just as personal as the word happiness. However, Aristotle would describe happiness with an activity. An activity that pushes us towards a state of Eudaimonia. So, if ethics is the study of how one should live, then it is imperative to know how to live. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay To start living ethically we need to live a happy life. According to Aristotle “Happiness, therefore, is apparently something complete and self-sufficient since it is the end of things achievable in action. In other words, if every action is just a means to an end, then it should be noted that we must live an enjoyable life that aims for the highest good. The end goal of any action is just another action leading to another end which is essentially another action and so on. While some might argue that the highest good is the acquisition of material wealth, the pursuit of fame/honor, or the satisfaction of physical pleasure. Aristotle would counter by arguing that these “goods” cannot be the highest good since they fall short in one way or another. Since wealth, for example, is used to acquire something else, honor is dictated by the judgment of others, and bodily pleasure is not always particularly good for humans. Aristotle believes that good deeds must be naturally good. Of course the good depends on three things: its usefulness/utility, its pleasure and its beauty or Kalon. Therefore an activity must be “an activity consistent with virtue.” The word virtue is aretê, and it could also be translated as “excellence”. Something has aretê if it performs its function well. A good rider, for example, has the ability to be good at handling horses, and a good knife has the ability to be sharp. Furthermore, Aristotle also defines the supreme good as an activity of the rational soul according to virtue. Since the rational soul is what separates animals from humans. If the activity of the rational soul must be in accordance with virtue, how does one live a virtuous life? A virtuous life is when we do the right thing at the right time, in the right way, in the right amount, to the right people. Sense; if, for example, you decided to save an old lady from dressing down, it could be argued that saving the old lady would mean acting in accordance with a virtuous life. However, if doing so meant the cost of your life, saving that old lady would not be virtuous, instead, calling the police would be like taking stock of the situation and taking the right action. But performing these actions alone does not constitute virtue itself. Virtue requires performing the right actions with the understanding and desire to perform the action to reach one's potential. These virtuous actions can only be created habitually, for example, if you leave someone the change you have in your pocket that is left over from the transaction simply for the sake of not having to burden yourself with carrying the change, then you yourself are not acting virtuously. Instead, you have to be generous for the sake of being generous. This, too, cannot be done without first forming generous habits. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay. However, generous acts are not enough. The actions must be exclusively exclusive to yourself. If you are missing an aspect of your life or have natural tendencies that are excessive or deficient, you must balance these tendencies to live virtuously. Ultimately we can.