Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics explores the idea of ​​an ethical framework based on virtues, deliberation, and choice. The key to being virtuous is finding a balance between the extremes on either side of a virtue. Achieving what constitutes a virtuous balance is achieved through the process of deliberation and then action. Sartre and the existentialists say that existence precedes essence; good comes from human subjectivity rather than from known virtues. Through a person's choices, they determine what is good. Although their theories about what constitutes the good may differ, choice is a key element of both ethical frameworks. The differences in each ethical framework about what the good is are not mutually exclusive. In fact, existentialism encompasses the views of Aristotle. Existentialists believe that existence precedes essence. This means that humanity exists first and is defined second; this means that man begins as nothing and must create himself because there is no human nature. Sartre likens man to a project, but experienced subjectively. Since man makes himself, he is responsible for himself. Sartre says that when a man chooses, he does not choose only for himself, but for all men. When man chooses what he wants to be, he creates an image of what he should be. What man chooses is always what he believes to be good and he wants all men to be good like him. Man seeks to universalize his choices. Aristotle believes that determining the Good is part of politics. He believes that politics pursues the highest goals of human existence as a whole, the highest goal being happiness. Happiness is the highest end because it is pursued as a sufficient end in itself. A happy person is an idea... middle of paper ...... modesty and cowardice. Temperance is the golden mean between indulgence and insensitivity. For Aristotle, to be virtuous is to act with moderation. Courage and temperance are two virtues that Aristotle chose to identify as good. Sartre would say that Aristotle believes that these virtues are good and therefore believes that they are good for all men. By defining them and the vices associated with them, Aristotle attempts to universalize his choices as choices for all men. He believes they are good, but an existentialist would say they are only good for Aristotle and those who choose the same. A similar statement could be made about Kant, Mill, or any other code of ethics that suggests that the good is knowable. In reality, all predeterminist ethical theorists are just existentialists who have made their choices and are trying to universalize them...