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Single Idea 88

[from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle, in 23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism ]

Full Idea

Nobody would choose to have all the good things in the world at the price of becoming somebody else.

Gist of Idea

Nobody would choose all the good things in world, if the price was loss of identity

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1166a23)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.294


A Reaction

This now looks like a particularly good objection to utilitarianism, which aims to promote pleasure, no matter what the cost.

Related Idea

Idea 3764 Actions are right if they promote pleasure, wrong if they promote pain [Mill]