Aristotle's foundational work on moral philosophy examines what constitutes a good life and virtuous character in ancient Greek society around 350 BCE. The philosopher explores concepts of happiness, virtue, and ethical decision-making through systematic analysis that remains influential today. This translation by D.P. Chase presents Aristotle's enduring insights into human flourishing and moral conduct.
Every art, and every science reduced to a teachable form, and in like manner every action and moral choice, aims, it is thought, at some good: for which reason a common and by no means a bad description of the Chief Good is, "that which all things aim at." Now there plainly is a difference in the Ends proposed: for in some cases they are acts of working, and in others certain works or tangible results beyond and beside the acts of working: and where there are certain Ends beyond and beside the actions, the works are in their nature better than the acts of working. Again, since actions and arts and sciences are many, the Ends likewise come to be many: of the healing art, for instance, health; of the ship-building art, a vessel; of the military art, victory; and of domestic management, wealth; are respectively the Ends. And whatever of such actions, arts, or sciences range under some one f…Continue reading →
This is the D.P. Chase translation (1847), a public-domain English text. Marginalia presents it unabridged, with chapter navigation, your reading position saved, and optional AI commentary on any passage.
Ancient Greece's most influential philosopher lived from 384-322 BCE, studying under Plato and tutoring Alexander the Great. His groundbreaking work established the foundations of logic, ethics, politics, and natural science that still shape Western thought today. This towering intellectual figure created systematic approaches to knowledge that dominated European scholarship for over a millennium. All works by Aristotle →
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