Happiness as Actuality in Nicomachean Ethics: An Overview

This is a study about the meaning of happiness (e?da?µ???a) in Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics (EN). It is argued that e?da?µ???a in EN means actuality and it has to be interpreted through the lenses of two metaphors used by Aristotle in EN 1.7 1098a21 and 10.6 1176a30: the “perimeter of good” and the “imprint of happiness.” To explain the meaning of happiness Aristotle first has to delineate the “perimeter of good” of human beings and he does that with the help of two criteria: the final end [t????] and the function of humanity [????? ?????p??]. These two criteria are metaphysical concepts which describe the “good” as the final metaphysical aim of every person and the best every person can be. This metaphysical teleological aim is the “actuality of the soul” according with excellence. This is the “perimeter” within which Aristotle enquires about e?da?µ???a--the good of humans.