Happiness as Actuality in Nicomachean Ethics

This is a study about the meaning of happiness (I I I aI ?I I I a) in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (EN). It is argued that I I I aI ?I I I 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 "e;perimeter of good"e; and the "e;imprint of happiness."e; To explain the meaning of happiness Aristotle first has to delineate the "e;perimeter of good"e; of human beings, and he does that with the help of two criteria: the final end [I I I I I ] and the function of humanity [I I yI I I I I I I I I I ]. These two criteria are metaphysical concepts which describe the "e;good"e; as the final metaphysical aim of every person, and the best every person can be. This metaphysical teleological aim is the "e;actuality of the soul"e; according with excellence. This is the "e;perimeter"e; within which Aristotle enquires about I I I aI ?I I I a--the good of humans.