Book 1 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 1 - The Good Achievable by Action
Explanation - Part By Part
"Let us again return to the good we are seeking, and ask what it can be."
Aristotle is refocusing the discussion on the central question: what is "the good"? In other words, he’s trying to define what it is that we, as human beings, ultimately aim for in life—what is the ultimate purpose or goal that directs our actions and choices. This is the "good" he is investigating.
"It seems different in different actions and arts; it is different in medicine, in strategy, and in the other arts likewise."
Aristotle is saying that "the good" isn't some one-size-fits-all concept; it depends on the context. For example, the "good" in medicine is different from the "good" in military strategy or any other field. Each area of activity or discipline has its own specific goal or purpose, which determines what is considered "good" within it.
"What then is the good of each? Surely that for whose sake everything else is done."
Aristotle is questioning what “good” means in each specific field or action. His answer highlights something fundamental: the "good" of any activity or craft is the ultimate purpose or goal for which it exists—what everything else in that activity is done to achieve. For example, in medicine, the "good" is health, because all medical actions aim at promoting or restoring health. In essence, the "good" is the end goal or the ultimate reason for every action or pursuit.
"In medicine this is health, in strategy victory, in architecture a house, in any other sphere something else, and in every action and pursuit the end; for it is for the sake of this that all men do whatever else they do."
Aristotle is explaining that in every field or activity, there is a specific goal or purpose that drives all actions within that domain. For example, in medicine, the ultimate goal is health. In strategy or military planning, the goal is victory. In architecture, it is the construction of a house. Similarly, every action or activity humans engage in is directed toward some final purpose or "end." This end is what gives meaning and direction to all the smaller steps or decisions involved—it’s the reason why people undertake those actions in the first place.
"Therefore, if there is an end for all that we do, this will be the good achievable by action, and if there are more than one, these will be the goods achievable by action."
Aristotle is pointing out that everything we do has an ultimate purpose or goal—something we aim to achieve through our actions. For example, health is the ultimate goal of medicine, victory is the goal of strategy, and a house is the goal of architecture. These are the "ends" or purposes specific to each activity.
Now, if we step back and look at everything we do as human beings, Aristotle asks: is there a single ultimate "end" or goal for all of our actions? If there is just one, that would be the highest good we can achieve through human activity. If there are multiple "ends," then these would collectively represent the highest "goods" achievable through our actions.
Essentially, Aristotle is directing us to think about the big picture—whether there's one ultimate purpose driving all human actions or a collection of highest goals toward which different pursuits aim.