What is the primary assertion of Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics"?

The primary assertion of Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" is that happiness is the ultimate goal of life. Aristotle argues that all human actions are directed toward some ultimate purpose or good, which he identifies as happiness or eudaimonia.

In "Nicomachean Ethics," Aristotle discusses how happiness is achieved through the practice of virtue. He posits that a virtuous life, characterized by the right balance of emotions and actions, leads to true happiness. This happiness is not simply a fleeting feeling or pleasure but a state of being that arises from living a life in accordance with virtue and rationality.

While the assertion concerning characteristics developing from corresponding activities touches upon Aristotle's emphasis on practical wisdom and the cultivation of virtues through habits, it does not encapsulate the broader, fundamental goal of life that he emphasizes throughout his work. Therefore, happiness as the ultimate goal is central to Aristotle's ethical philosophy and serves as a guiding principle for his discussion of virtue and moral character.