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Single Idea 5127

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / b. Eudaimonia ]

Full Idea

We can distinguish at least two possible interpretations of Aristotle's thesis that eudaimonia is the chief good: either eudaimonia is that for the sake of which all action IS undertaken, or that for which all action OUGHT to be undertaken.

Gist of Idea

Does Aristotle say eudaimonia is the aim, or that it ought to be?

Source

comment on Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1097b22) by John McDowell - Role of Eudaimonia in Aristotle's Ethics §1

Book Ref

McDowell,John: 'Mind, Value and Reality' [Harvard 1998], p.3

A Reaction

It seems to me Aristotle is describing how people DO behave (they all want ot flourish), and then goes on to describe how they OUGHT to behave to achieve the end they all want. His theory does not describe convention, which mostly concerns pleasure.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [Greek concept of fulfilment/happiness/flourishing]:

1646 Socrates was the first to put 'eudaimonia' at the centre of ethics [Socrates, by Vlastos]
14178 Happiness is secure enjoyment of what is good and beautiful [Plato]
18673 Eudaimonia is said to only have final value, where reason and virtue are also useful [Aristotle, by Orsi]
5127 Does Aristotle say eudaimonia is the aim, or that it ought to be? [McDowell on Aristotle]
5143 Some good and evil can happen to the dead, just as the living may be unaware of a disaster [Aristotle]
5996 Critolaus redefined Aristotle's moral aim as fulfilment instead of happiness [Critolaus, by White,SA]
13302 Life is like a play - it is the quality that matters, not the length [Seneca]
5068 'Eudaimonia' means 'having a good demon', implying supreme good fortune [Taylor,R]
5120 What counts as 'flourishing' must be relative to various sets of values [Harman]
8005 'Happiness' is a bad translation of 'eudaimonia', which includes both behaving and faring well [MacIntyre]
21836 Philosophers after Aristotle endorsed the medical analogy for eudaimonia [Nussbaum, by Flanagan]
21835 We need Eudaimonics - the empirical study of how we should flourish [Flanagan]
20199 Nowadays we doubt the Greek view that the flourishing of individuals and communities are linked [Zagzebski]
4324 Animals and plants can 'flourish', but only rational beings can have eudaimonia [Hursthouse]
7099 With a broad concept of flourishing, it might be possible without the virtues [Statman]