Single Idea 5868

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / a. Nature of happiness]

Full Idea

No horse or bird or fish is happy, nor any other thing that there is which does not have a share by its nature in the divine.

Clarification

Happy is the Greek word 'eudaimon', also translated as 'flourishing'

Gist of Idea

Horses, birds and fish are not happy, lacking a divine aspect to their natures

Source

Aristotle (Eudemian Ethics [c.333 BCE], 1217a26)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Eudemian Ethics I,II and VIII', ed/tr. Woods,Michael [OUP 1992], p.8


A Reaction

Pet owners will all feel their beloved companions have been insulted, but I agree with this. 'Happy' does not here mean 'in a state of pleasure'. A fully successful bird does little more than the four f's (feed, fornicate, flee, fight).