more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 5856

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism ]

Full Idea

One's own interest is a relative good, nobility a good absolutely.

Clarification

'Nobility' is what is 'kalon', or fine or beautiful

Gist of Idea

Self-interest is a relative good, but nobility an absolute good

Source

Aristotle (The Art of Rhetoric [c.350 BCE], 1389b37)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'The Art of Rhetoric', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,H.C. [Penguin 1991], p.175

A Reaction

The key idea in the whole of Greek moral theory is the concept of what we can call a 'beautiful' action. Such things, or course, tend to be visible in great actions, such as sparing an enemy, rather than the minutiae of well-mannered daily life.

The 17 ideas from 'The Art of Rhetoric'

5847 It is the role of dialectic to survey syllogisms [Aristotle]
5848 All good things can be misused, except virtue [Aristotle]
5849 Rhetoric is a political offshoot of dialectic and ethics [Aristotle]
5850 Happiness is composed of a catalogue of internal and external benefits [Aristotle]
5851 Pentathletes look the most beautiful, because they combine speed and strength [Aristotle]
5852 The four constitutions are democracy (freedom), oligarchy (wealth), aristocracy (custom), tyranny (security) [Aristotle]
5853 The best virtues are the most useful to others [Aristotle]
1660 It is noble to avenge oneself on one's enemies, and not come to terms with them [Aristotle]
23250 Desired responsible actions result either from rational or from irrational desire [Aristotle]
5854 Nobody fears a disease which nobody has yet caught [Aristotle]
5855 We all feel universal right and wrong, independent of any community or contracts [Aristotle]
5856 Self-interest is a relative good, but nobility an absolute good [Aristotle]
5857 The young feel pity from philanthropy, but the old from self-concern [Aristotle]
5858 Men are physically prime at thirty-five, and mentally prime at forty-nine [Aristotle]
5859 Rich people are mindlessly happy [Aristotle]
5861 People assume events cause what follows them [Aristotle]
5862 A single counterexample is enough to prove that a truth is not necessary [Aristotle]