Aristotle begins his discussion of ethics by showing that every act that a person does is directed toward

a particular purpose, aim, or what the Greeks called telos. There is a purpose why one does something,
and for Aristotle, a person's action manifests a good that she aspires for. Every pursuit of a person hopes
to achieve a good. *examples* Therefore, for Aristotle, the good is considered to be the telos or
purpose for which all acts seek to achieve.

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 the can be used to achieve an even higher
purpose and so on. In other words, the different goods that one pursues form a hierarchy of teloi (plural
form of telos).

*example* It is important for Aristotle that one becomes clear of the hierarchy of goals that the
different acts produce in order for a person to distinguish which actions are higher that the other.

With the condition that there is a hierarchy of telos, Aristotle the asks about highest purpose, which is
the ultimate good of a human being.

General criteria in order for one to recognize the highest good of man according to Aristotle:
First: The highest good of a person must be final. As a final end, it is no longer utilized for the sake of
arriving at a much higher end. *example*
Second: the ultimate telos of a person must be self-sufficient. Satisfaction in life is arrived at once this
highest good is attained. Nothing else is sought after and desired, once this self-sufficient goal is
achieved, since this is already considered as the best possible good in life. *example*

So what is the highest goal for Aristotle? What goal is both final and self-sufficient? For Aristotle, the
question can only be adequately answered by older individuals because they have gone through
enormous and challenging life experiences which helped them gain a weight of knowledge on what the
ultimate purpose of a person is. According to Aristotle, older individuals would agree that the highest
purpose and the ultimate good of a man is happiness, or for the Greeks, eudaimonia.

Happiness for Aristotle is the only self-sufficient aim that one can aspire for. No amount of wealth or
power can be more fulfilling than having achieved the condition of happiness. *explanation* The true
measure of well-being for Aristotle is not by means of richness or fame but by the condition of having
attained a happy life.

*example* Aristotle shows that one can arrive at the ultimate good by doing one's function well.

How does a person arrive at her highest good? According to Aristotle, if an individual's action can
achieve the highest good, then one must investigate how she functions which enables her to achieve her
ultimate purpose. If she performs her function well, then she is capable of arriving at happiness.

How does a human being function which sets her apart from the rest? For Aristotle, what defines
human beings is her function or activity of reasons. This function makes her different from the rest of
beings.
What defines a person therefore is her function or activity of reason. A person's action to be
considered as truly human must be an act that is always in accordance to reason. The function of a
human being is to act following the dictates of her reason. Any person for that matter utilizes her reason
but Aristotle further says that a person cannot only person her function but she can perform it well.
*example and explanation of example*

The local saying "Madaling maging tao, mahirap magpakatao" can be understood in the light of
Aristotle's thoughts on the function of a good person.