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Single Idea 2129

[from 'The Republic' by Plato, in 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / d. Health ]

Full Idea

Goodness is a state of mental health, bloom and vitality; badness is a state of mental sickness, deformity and infirmity.

Gist of Idea

Goodness is mental health, badness is mental sickness

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 444e)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1993], p.157


A Reaction

A nice statement of the closeness of goodness to health for the Greeks. The key point is that health is a deeply natural concept, which bridges the fact-value divide.