We do not seek honor because it is valuable in itself, we seek honor to make us feel good, to achieve happiness. Aristotle believed that a true, ultimate must be sought for its own sake, that the end goal be self-sufficient and final. For Aristotle, the good life is the "life of contemplation." Contemplation, the activity of the intellect, is loved for its own sake. It is not done in order to achieve something else. Thus, it is a true, ultimate end. Furthermore, contemplation, being an activity of the mind, is self-sufficient, meaning it does not require other people or places for its existence.

Contemplation, the activity of the intellect, is the highest form of activity because it corresponds to the best part of the soul, the rational part. The rational part of the soul is superior to the irrational part. The rational part of the soul

There are two kinds of virtue, intellectual virtue and moral virtue. The soul has two parts, one rational, the other irrational. The rational part...

The irrational part produces moral virtue, which is created by habit.
The rational part of the soul is best because it is necessary for the noblest type of action, action by choice. Only action by choice is can be virtuous. A person cannot take credit for action by habit, so action by habit cannot be virtuous and is less noble than action by choice. Aristotle defined choice as the deliberate desire of things in our own power. This deliberation requires a rational mind that picks one course of action over another.

Virtue is important because people attain the good life through the attainment of virtue. However, Aristotle believed that the highest virtue was for the few. This is why he believed that monarchies were the best form of government, followed by aristocracy, then democracy.

Bibliography

Smith, J.A. (2004) The Ethics of Aristotle, translated by J.A. Smith. Pennsylvania State University.