Single Idea 5131

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / b. Types of good]

Full Idea

What sort of things can one posit as good in themselves? Everything that is pursued even when considered in isolation - intelligence, for example, and sight, and some pleasures and honours?

Clarification

'Posit' means propose

Gist of Idea

Intelligence and sight, and some pleasures and honours, are candidates for being good in themselves

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1096b15)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.71


A Reaction

He means good-for-man, of course. If only 'some' pleasures are good, that implies a further good which is used to judge the pleasures. For Aristotle what is 'fine' (kalon) is the ultimate self-evident good.