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Single Idea 5272

[from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle, in 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / g. Contemplation ]

Full Idea

If the intellect is divine compared with man, the life of the intellect must be divine compared with the life of a human being.

Gist of Idea

The intellectual life is divine in comparison with ordinary human life

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1177b31)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.330


A Reaction

This raises an interesting question: what, for Aristotle, was the value of a human life? This raises a meta-question for virtue theory, because the latter only concerns itself with excellence for humans? What is the value of a slug?