Aristotle was convinced that all things and all human beings have a purpose or function — a telos. A complete explanation of anything would include its final cause or purpose, which is, ultimately, to realise its potential and to fulfil its goal. For human beings, the ultimate goal was a human flourishing and developing those characteristics best suited to the realisation of a virtuous human being. His emphasis was not on what people do, but on what kind of person they are.
Aristotle maintained that the virtues were those qualities that lead to a good life — qualities such as courage, compassion, honesty and justice. The person who aimed to cultivate these qualities was maximising their potential for a happy life —a quality of happiness described as eudaimonia, which involves being happy and living well. It is of intrinsic value, not a means to an end, and should be desired for its own sake, not only for the individual but also for the society of which they are a member.
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