Summary and Analysis
Book I:
Chapter I - The Aim of All Action Is the Good
Summary
All human actions and choices aim at some good, which may be defined as the end or object of that action or choice. There are as many kinds of ends as there are kinds of activity and the ends may vary, depending on the particular activity being studied (e.g., the end of medical science is good health, the end of military science is victory). Some ends are subordinate to other ends, because the latter provide the motive for pursuing the former (e.g., the activity of bridle-making is subordinate to the more important activity of horsemanship, which is in turn subordinate to the activity of military science). The major ends for the sake of which minor ends are pursued are superior and ought to be preferred.