11) which is centered around the utility of the community as a whole. Thus, Mill maintains the idea that humans should only desire to reach ends that promote pleasure and prevent pain in order to obtain happiness.
Next, in Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, happiness takes a different idea as he explains his theory. He believes that, "happiness is a certain sort of activity of the soul in accord with virtue" (P. 12). By "the soul," Aristotle refers to the rationally calculating part of the soul that has reason, apart from the non-rational part of the soul. It is the final end at which virtuous acts, or proper means of the two extremes, can arrive with reason. Happiness is explained as the goal or end for individuals as they complete their functions with virtues. For example, a function of a chef is to make good food, which makes him or her "a good chef." He also asserts that happiness is the complete good because it seems to be self-sufficient and incapable of addition. To illustrate, we choose happiness for its own sake, as opposed to other virtues chosen to indirectly experience happiness. For example, money can be chosen as a means for happiness, or enjoyment as a means for pleasure, or honor as a means for politics. Although Aristotle agrees that individuals need a "polis" to truly fulfill their nature[functions] while interacting with other people in the community (P. 182). The point of concern arises when it comes to happiness itself is in the individuals themselves because happiness is the final end they should strive to achieve in accordance with their unique passions, interests, dreams, talents, or goals. He disagrees with Mill's notion that pleasure of any kind and the avoidance of pain will ultimately lead humans to happiness. Aristotle believes that, in order for human beings to achieve happiness as the highest of all realizable goods, he should carry a contemplative life with reason and virtuous acts.
