Final answer:
Aristotle suggests that happiness, or eudaimonia, is the ultimate goal of human action, which is best achieved through virtuous living and maintaining meaningful friendships. Pleasure, while a component of a fulfilling life, is not sufficient for achieving eudaimonia. Virtues and stable, character-based friendships contribute to our overall flourishing.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Aristotle, pleasure, action, and happiness are closely interconnected in the pursuit of a flourishing life, or eudaimonia. Pleasure alone is seen as insufficient for happiness, as it can be fleeting and varied in form, ranging from sensory and bodily pleasures to mental and emotional ones.
Aristotle considers happiness to be the ultimate end or purpose (telos) of human action, with virtuous living enabling us to achieve eudaimonia. In this context, virtues are habits that help guide us towards preferable actions, contributing to the overall flourishing of our lives.
Cultivating these virtues, along with maintaining social relations and friendships, is essential for achieving a fulfilling and happy life. While friendships solely based on pleasure or utility may be transient, friendships based on character are stable and contribute to our well-being.