1. Without using your notes:
What can you remember?
Without using your notes:
What for Aristotle is meant by the term Eudaimonia? (Clue: It isn’t happiness)
What are some of the differences between this and happiness?
What are some of the traditional ‘needs’ people might say we should aim for in life?
Why does Aristotle believe each of these cannot be all there is to a ‘good’ life?

2. Without using your notes:
What for Aristotle is meant by the term Eudaimonia? (Clue: It isn’t happiness)
What are some of the differences between this and happiness?
What are some of the traditional ‘needs’ people might say we should aim for in life?
Why does Aristotle believe each of these cannot be all there is to a ‘good’ life?
What can you remember?

3. Lesson Objective
To understand what is meant by the terms ergon (function), arête (virtue) and characteristic activity according to Aristotle.
To examine the function argument given by Aristotle and how he thinks this will allow us to achieve Eudaimonia.

4. Function Argument
We ended last lesson by stating that in order to have a ‘good’ life and therefore achieve Eudaimonia, Aristotle believed we had to perform our function as humans correctly.
This is sometimes known as his ‘function argument’ and this lesson will be spent looking at it in more detail.

5. Function > Good
In Aristotles way of thinking, everything (both every action and every object) has it’s meaning and a FUNCTION (final cause).
How well something performs it’s FUNCTION defines how GOOD it is.
This FUNCTION is also sometimes referred to as a:
CHARACTERISTIC ACTIVITY (i.e. the thing something was made to do).
In the original Greek ERGON
What is the ERGON of a clothes peg?
How GOOD are these clothes pegs at fulfilling that purpose?
What qualities would a GOOD clothes peg have?

6. Qualities / Arête / Virtues
When we discuss whether or not something fulfils its ERGON well we usually aim to identify certain qualities that would help or hinder that aim.
A quality like this (something that helps) is what Aristotle refers to as an ARÊTE, this can be translated as ‘excellence’ or more specifically ‘virtue’.
Sharpness would be a virtue in a knife.
Good focus would be an arête in an eye.

7. Qualities or Arête Can-openers Coats Sun Tan Lotion Guitar Player
What virtues would you say we should look for in the following things (TPS)?
Can-openers
Coats
Sun Tan Lotion
Guitar Player
Doctor
(Tip: If you’re struggling, start by identifying the function (final cause) of each thing, then ask what it would need to perform that function well – that is the arête)

8. Without using your notes:
What can you remember?
Without using your notes:
What for Aristotle is meant by the term Eudaimonia? (Clue: It isn’t happiness)
How do we decide whether something is good according to Aristotle? (Bonus: Use the greek term!)
What do we call qualities that help us achieve this aim? (Bonus: Use the greek term!)

9. Why do humans have a function?
Aristotle gives two reasons as to why he thinks this idea of function / ergon also applies to humans:
People with different occupations (flute-players, plumbers etc.) all have functions, so is it likely, Aristotle asks, that these occupations all have a function whilst ‘man has none’?
Secondly, we can see that the parts of a human, our eyes, our hands and feet all have functions, so shouldn’t we assume that man as a whole has a function?

10. The Function Argument
Two options: Either you can assume Aristotle is correct and we do have a function… Or you can take the view that when he talks about ‘ergon’ he actually means something that distinguishes us from other creatures - a ‘characteristic activity’ as we mentioned earlier…

11. The Function Argument
Regardless of which option you take, Aristotle continues:
He asks what is our ergon?
What are our arêtes in order to achieve that ergon?
If we perform this ergon well, will we have a good life?

12. What is our function?
Our function, according to Aristotle must be something unique to humans. It’s no use us having a characteristic activity that we share with other creatures, otherwise it’s not really a characteristic of humanity. What functions are distinct to humans? Can you list any on your whiteboards?

13. So we can say he basically means we have a ‘rational mind’.
What is our function?
The one thing that makes humans unique is that we have rationality or reason. So this must be our function, our way of achieving Eudaimonia. It’s important to note here that Aristotle isn’t saying our way to Eudaimonia is simply reason, we can’t think our way there – it’s to live our lives guided by reason, this is our characteristic activity as humans (our Ergon) we do things according to reason.
It’s important to note here that Aristotle often refers to rationality being part of our soul. The actual term he uses is psyche which means something closer to ‘mind’ than the traditional spiritual soul we’ve discussed before.
So we can say he basically means we have a ‘rational mind’.

14. So A Good Human?...
We said before a good X is one that performs its characteristic activity well, and that it will need certain qualities (virtues) in order to do this.
Our ergon or characteristic activity is to live in accordance with reason, this would make us a ‘good’ human and therefore our virtues will be what enables this.
Ultimately this therefore means only a virtuous person can achieve Eudaimonia. Exactly what a ‘virtuous’ person is will be the discussion for the rest of this unit.

15. A Quick Summary
“So eudaimonia consists in the activity of the soul in accordance with the virtues (or if there are more than one kinds of virtue, in accordance with the best and most perfect kind)” Finally, we must add that this must apply to a person’s life as a whole. A day or even year of living well doesn’t amount to a good life, just as a good clothes peg must last longer than a day.

16. Putting it all together - The function argument:
Everything has a function (ergon), this is clear in Aristotle’s teleological world view.
Humans must therefore also have a function (ergon).
The only thing unique to humans, our characteristic activity, our function – is the ability to act according to reason.
To be a good X requires that X fulfils it’s function well, through the exercising of particular virtues (arête).
Therefore to be a good human requires that we act according to reason and practice those virtues (arête) that enable us to do so.
Therefore a good / flourishing life (Eudaimonia) for humans is one lived according to reason, in which the virtues that enable this are exercised.

17. Key Terms
You need to know a number of key terms to understand the Function Argument -
EUDAIMONIA
ERGON
ARÊTE

18. Key Terms
You need to know a number of key terms to understand the Function Argument –
EUDAIMONIA – Flourishing / thriving, in a position where all our needs are met. Sometimes translated as happiness. Our ultimate (superior) aim in life.
ERGON – Function or characteristic activity.
ARÊTE – Qualities / Excellences / Virtues that allow us to perform our function well.

19. Recap Questions
How do we decide whether something is good or not according to Aristotle?
Why does Aristotle also think that humans have a function?
What is the function of humans?
How do humans therefore live a good life and achieve eudaimonia?

20. How do we decide whether something is good or not according to Aristotle?
Why does Aristotle also think that humans have a function?
What is the function of humans?
How do humans therefore live a good life and achieve eudaimonia?

21. Quick Summary So Far
Everyone’s actions are guided by particular aims or ‘goods’. We want to achieve these things to add value to our lives.
These ‘goods’ are in fact guided by some ultimate aim or ‘good’. One that will make our lives extremely valuable and is not wanted for anything else.
The ultimate aim for humans in life is happiness, or more specifically – Eudaimonia.
Important point: Eudaimonia means more than just ‘happiness’ it means flourishing or living well.
Popular versions of living well are not enough. Pleasure, wealth, honour and moral goodness are not Eudaimonia. Although they may not be bad short-term goals.
To live a good life and achieve Eudaimonia, we must perform our function and purpose as humans.
Our function as humans is to live according to reason – it is the only thing unique to us.
Therefore the ‘good’ life for a human is one guided by reason, utilising the virtues that enable us to do this.
???

22. Lesson Summary
To understand what is meant by the terms ergon (function), arête (virtue) and characteristic activity according to Aristotle.
To examine the function argument given by Aristotle and how he thinks this will allow us to achieve Eudaimonia.

23. Extension: Can you think of any issues with this argument?
Exam Style Questions
What is meant by the term Eudaimonia? (3)
Why does Aristotle believe that the ergon of humans is to act according to reason? (5)
Explain Aristotle’s function argument for virtue ethics. (12)
Extension: Can you think of any issues with this argument?