Aristotle (Ethics) Question? Supreme good? Please help me interpret this!?

Question:According to Aristotle, in "Ethics," what is the supreme good? The exerpt of "Ethics" says this:
"If it is true that in the sphere of action there is an end which we wish for its own sake, and for the sake of which we wish for everything else, and that we do not desire all things for the sake of something else (for, if that is so, the process will go on ad infinitum, and our desire will be idle and futile) it is clear that this will be the good or supreme good."

I think my brain is to fried to do this! Can someone help me? I am not following, I don't know what it is talking about. Help?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: According to Aristotle, in "Ethics," what is the supreme good? The exerpt of "Ethics" says this:
"If it is true that in the sphere of action there is an end which we wish for its own sake, and for the sake of which we wish for everything else, and that we do not desire all things for the sake of something else (for, if that is so, the process will go on ad infinitum, and our desire will be idle and futile) it is clear that this will be the good or supreme good."

I think my brain is to fried to do this! Can someone help me? I am not following, I don't know what it is talking about. Help?

The supreme good is a Aristolian version of Plato and Socrates' Realm of Forms. Aristotle believed that the carnal desires that humanity shares with the animal kingdom (greed, lust, pride, aggression, etc) get in the way of truly embracing our humanity and ability to see the "supreme good". The supreme good could only be seen through rigourous study and years of tempered enlightenment based on philosophic ideas and scientific discovery.
The supreme good was perfection, the immovable mover, or Form by which all we have comes from. Aristotle is saying that we all wish to see the supreme good but many are distracted through life's boons and banes. If we can eliminate those distractions and focus soley on achieving that high state of mind to see the supreme good for the sake of only seeing the supreme good and achieving enlightenment then we will accomplish this. If we do this for any other reason we will fall short.
Thomas Aquinas would hold these teachings close to the vest while he wrote his theological statements. Within these words are some of the foundations of monotheism.

i don't blame you, Aristotle is tricky... i interpret it as him simply saying that if we didn't do things for our desires (such as wanting to be happy, wanting to get money, wanting love, etc) and instead just lived our lives without any preconception of what our actions would bring us, then that would be the ultimate good.

trying my hand at this interpretation, even ari had to understand that at a point in every life there was nothing to us and no desires or goals; but eventually after a point in each life certain desires or goals would be set to attain. then, it would be for our greater or supreme good to be happy with what we have, for all things are unattainable.broken down even further;we gotta know when to quit and settle for what we have.we'll never be happy 'til we do...

The Supreme Good is altruism...a willingness to sacrifice one's desire to benefit society as a whole.