Aristotle on Function of Men

Another assignment for my class. Footnotes have been omitted. 

Aristotle thinks it is important to ascertain the function of a man because human happiness is an end of an action. So in order to know what is good and bad for human happiness, we must know what mans function is. To determine what it's function is, we have to determine what kind of soul it has. If the function of a flute player is to play the flute, then playing the flute well is what makes the flute player a good flute player. Likewise with man, whatever our function is, doing that function well is what makes us a good man. The powers and function of man is not to be found in the body alone, but in the soul since material bodies are just potentiality and souls is what actualizes the matter into the kind of bodies that they are. So, as body-soul composites are those which exist by nature, that is they have an internal principle of change, they also have an end, or function. Further, for anything that has a form it also has a function. For Aristotle, the distinguishing function of man is the rational activity of the soul. The rational activity of the soul is in accordance to virtue, so the function of man is to be virtuous. So acting in accordance and being obedient to virtue is what makes a good and happy man.

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