For Aristotle believes it is the third life, the one of contemplation, that is the best life as it is an inherently philosophical life (Nicomachean Ethics 257). .
Upon identifying the contemplative life as the best life [for achieving the best end- happiness], Aristotle begins to focus on how the wise go about achieving happiness. This is because a central belief of Aristotle was that it is not simply enough to know "good ", but that it is achievable for one to take action to become "good"." Aristotle places great value in leisure time for that very reason; when used wisely, leisure time can be used for contemplation and study. Aristotle said that "the Gods activity that is superior in blessedness is the activity of study.and human life is blessed to the extent that it has something resembling this sort of activity"" (Nicomachean Ethics 356). The ability to study, or reason, allows for humans to experience happiness while the animals, which do not have the ability to study, have no notion of happiness at all. "Since happiness is a certain sort of activity in the soul in accord with complete virtue, we must examine virtue; for that will perhaps be a way to study virtue better"" (Nicomachean Ethics 264). This observation leads Aristotle to analyze virtue as it relates to the soul.
According to Aristotle, the soul consists of two parts, the rational and the irrational. Likewise, Aristotle believed that there are two types of virtue, virtue of thought [intellectual virtue] and virtue of character [moral virtue] (Nicomachean Ethics 264). Before discussing the two parts of the soul, one must first gain a better understanding of virtue; Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics (365) attempts to do that. First, let us look at the virtues of thought such as wisdom, comprehension, and prudence (Nicomachean Ethics 265). This type of virtue is only gained through study, and therefore requires a great amount of time and experience.
