Single Idea 18231

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / g. Contemplation]

Full Idea

When Anaxagoras was asked what it was for which a person would choose to be born rather than not, he said it would be to apprehend the heavens and the order in the whole universe.

Gist of Idea

Anaxagoras said a person would choose to be born to contemplate the ordered heavens

Source

Anaxagoras (fragments/reports [c.460 BCE], 1216), quoted by Aristotle - Eudemian Ethics 8 'Finality'

Book Reference

Korsgaard,Christine M.: 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [CUP 1996], p.232


A Reaction

[Anaxagoras, quoted by Aristotle, quoted by Korsgaard, quoted by me, and then quoted by you, perhaps]

Related Idea

Idea 18239 What is contemplated must have a higher value than contemplation [Kant, by Korsgaard]