In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explores the most important question we humans can ask; what is the best way to live our life? Throughout this book he establishes and supports logical arguments in an attempt to prove that happiness is the ultimate goal of life and that everything we do pursues it. He begins his argument by asserting that everything we do in everyday life, we do because we believe it to be fundamentally good. Aristotle points out that although we seek what is good, the manner in which we seek it differs greatly. There are so many actions and things we can do while pursuing what we believe to be good, that it is illogical to believe that any one of these actions constitutes the ultimate end. Aristotle states: “An end pursued in itself is more complete than an end pursued because of something else, and an end which never deserves to be chosen because of something else is more complete as ends which are both in themselves and because of something else. this end” (Nicomachean Ethics, 134). What exactly does this statement mean and how does it relate to Aristotle's grand plan of living the best lifestyle of happiness? The first part of the statement simply says that an end which requires nothing other than itself is closer to the ultimate end than an end which requires nothing other than itself. is subordinate to other purposes. For example, if I go to school simply to get a better job after I graduate and make more money, I am pursuing a less complete goal. On the other hand, if I go to school simply to educate myself because I love knowledge and want to improve myself, then this end is superior to that of going to school for knowledge. 'money. Since knowledge is not an end subordinate to other ends, then it is more complete. The goal is also always more...... middle of paper ......the rational side of our soul must be able to control our irrational in order to achieve virtue is reason enough to discredit his theory. I believe that to be happy we must satisfy our desires as much as possible. If our desires are irrational, why do we have them? He says that since God gave us reason, we must use it, but we also have desires! Why shouldn't we use our desires to control our reason? I just don't see why we shouldn't do what makes us immediately satisfied in life because it's too short. I also believe that imposing on people all these perfect virtues of character is absurd. Why does courage make someone less happy than a coward? I believe that being yourself is the key to happiness and that constantly shaping your personality and character traits to become a perfect human being is wrong..