Single Idea 5079

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / a. Nature of happiness]

Full Idea

Pleasures can be located in a particular part of the body, and can be momentary, and come and go, but this is not the case with happiness.

Gist of Idea

Pleasure can have a location, and be momentary, and come and go - but happiness can't

Source

Richard Taylor (Virtue Ethics: an Introduction [2002], Ch.16)

Book Reference

Taylor,Richard: 'Virtue Ethics: an Introduction' [Prometheus 2002], p.110


A Reaction

Probably no one ever thought that pleasure and happiness were actually identical - merely that pleasure is the only cause and source of happiness. These are good objections to that hypothesis. Pleasure simply isn't 'the good'.