Final answer:
Aristotle identifies three ways of life: the life of pleasure, the political life, and the contemplative life, recommending the contemplative life as the highest as it focuses on the pursuit of philosophical wisdom and aligns most closely with the concept of eudaimonia or human flourishing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three Ways of Life According to Aristotle
Aristotle discusses three principal ways of life in his ethical works, which revolve around the central concept of eudaimonia or human flourishing. These ways of life are the life of pleasure, the political life, and the contemplative life.
The life of pleasure is centered on the enjoyment of sensual satisfactions, which Aristotle regards as the lowest form of happiness and often compared to the life of a beast. The political life focuses on honor and is associated with virtuous actions and societal recognition, which is higher than a life of mere pleasure but still not the highest form of the good life. Aristotle ultimately recommends the contemplative life, which is a life devoted to the pursuit of philosophical wisdom and knowledge, as the highest and most fulfilling way to live because it is the most self-sufficient and it exercises the rational part of the soul, the most divine aspect of human nature.
Aristotle believes that living a good life means achieving eudaimonia, which is realized by practicing virtues and engaging in activities that use and develop one's rational faculties. He posits that the contemplative life is the most conducive to achieving eudaimonia, for it allows one to align with their true purpose and attain a state of completeness. In addition to the development of virtues, Aristotle also notes the importance of social relationships, friendships, and other external goods to the flourishing life.