To achieve a state of well-being or rather happiness; what he also refers to as eudaimonia, Aristotle asserts that human beings must live by virtues. In addition, Aristotle considers eudaimonia as the highest human good (Ross, 1999, pg. 4). For one to live a good life, an individual must be a part of a flourishing political setting that will make the person develop the requisite values that result in a good life (Pojman 508). I agree with Aristotle on this argument. Man established the state as a social institution to ensure his protection. When united, men are able to protect one another. For instance, the state has laws which are formed by the legislative branch of government, implemented by the executive branch, and enforced by the judicial branch. In this way, therefore, no human being can treat the other unjustly without facing the law. Notably, man is naturally evil. In this regard, if the institutions like the government did not exist, powerful men would easily intimidate and even kill the less powerful ones.
Aristotle distinguishes moral virtues and intellectual ones. He contends that intellectual virtues can be learned while moral ones have to be lived to be learned. By this, Aristotle means that people have to live in the right manner to adopt the virtues which are nothing but the habits of living right. To develop the habits of living right, however, the naturally evil man needs social institutions to control his behavior. Indeed, man's society needs the state and other institutions to enable a peaceful and well living. Aristotle, therefore, asserts that ethics are just but a branch of politics. I agree with Aristotle because human beings need laws which bring peace and order in their communities. Social institutions are the ones which make the laws exist in the first place as well as be followed.
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References
Pojman, Louis. Philosophy: The quest for truth. 10th Edition. Page 508-518.
Ross, W. DO. 1999. Nicomachean Ethics. Kitchner: Botache Books.
