Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Metaphysics', 'comedies (frags)' and 'talk'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these texts

display all the ideas for this combination of texts


2 ideas

22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / a. Form of the Good
I can form no notion of what the good is [Amphis]
     Full Idea: What the good is I no more can form a notion of, than of the good of Plato.
     From: Amphis (comedies (frags) [c.350 BCE]), quoted by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 03.1.22
     A reaction: It was evidently a running joke in the ancient world that no one could define Plato's Form of the Good. He was said to have written a book on it, now lost.
Is the good a purpose, a source of movement, or a pure form? [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: The good is a principle for all things, and is so in the very highest degree, but in what way? As a purpose, as a source of movement, or as a form?
     From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1075a32)
     A reaction: I tend to think of it as an 'ideal', whatever that is, and hence an inspiration, but a rather vague one. Beauty, goodness and truth. Surely not a source of movement?