Final answer:
Aristotle claims that precision cannot be attained in ethics, as concepts like 'the good' are complex and multifaceted, resisting reduction to a single formula. He emphasizes a practical understanding of ethics centered on human flourishing and virtues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle's perspective in ethics is centered on the pursuit of human flourishing or eudaimonia. He claims that a life well lived is achieved by cultivating virtues, traits that enable us to make the right choices and thereby flourish as humans. Importantly, Aristotle thinks that ethical knowledge is not precise and that concepts in ethics, like 'the good,' cannot be reduced to a simple formula. Instead, ethics require a practical understanding of how to live a flourishing life, through observing and participating in social relationships and political structures. Aristotle encourages natural observation of particulars rather than abstractions, differentiating his view from Plato's ideal forms. Despite criticism, such as from Anscombe, who views Aristotle's concept of eudaimonism as too vague, Aristotle remains a fundamental figure in Western philosophy, his works serving as a touchstone in discussions of ethical theory and the pursuit of a fulfilled life.