Nicomachean Ethics

-ty of horsemanship, and these with them, and every military action, [pertain] to the military faculty; and others to others in like manner: in all these, the ends of those that fall under the ruling arts are more to be desired than all the ends of the subordinates. For the latter are sought for the sake of the former. And it makes no difference whether the ends of the actions are the activities themselves, or something else besides them, as may be observed in the aforementioned faculties.

1 Every art, and every inquiry, } Aristotle the Philosopher, in this book of Ethics or Morals, in considering human happiness, intends to teach all those things by which a man may become happy as far as possible. For according to the opinion of the Peripatetics, since our soul is like a blank slate, which does not have its own perfection innate, as Plato thought, but since it possesses strengths and powers by which it is suited to acquire it; and since that perfection does not seem possible to be acquired unless it has been first perceived and known in some way; therefore, according to the Philosopher Aristotle, the ultimate end in human affairs must necessarily be known by the man wishing to attain it, just as a target must be known by an archer who intends to hit it. It must be seen, therefore, what happiness itself is. But before that, it must be asked if it is. For the question of if it is precedes the question of what it is, as the Philosopher says in the book of the Posteriors. Therefore, in this first book, the Philosopher inquires whether happiness exists; and since it does, what it is and of what sort; and if it is possible for a man to acquire it. Wherefore, so that these things may be received with seriousness and in order, this first book is divided into four treatises. In the first, he inquires whether happiness exists, and whether man can acquire it. In the second, he defines happiness, and considers what it is, and in what things it consists or does not consist. In the third, from what it arises as if from a cause, and in what it exists as if in a subject. In the fourth, he shows what sort of thing happiness is, and in which power of the soul it consists. The first treatise is the introduction to the entire book, and it is divided into three chapters. In the first, he asks whether there is some good end in human affairs. In the second, he shows that there is some best end in human affairs. In the third, he shows what is the manner of imparting and receiving this doctrine, and by whom [it should be heard].