Single Idea 39

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / d. Routes to happiness]

Full Idea

Happiness demands not only complete goodness but a complete life (e.g. final misfortune of King Priam of Troy).

Clarification

'Happiness' is the Greek word 'eudaimonia', also sometimes translated as 'flourishing'

Gist of Idea

Happiness needs total goodness and a complete life

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1100a05)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.81


A Reaction

Eudaimonia may be ruined if a serious defect of character emerges near the end, but surely not if they are merely the victim of misfortune?