Durable Goods : Pleasure, Wealth and Power in the Virtuous Life Hardback

by Gerol Petruzella

Part of the Studies in Theoretical & Applied Ethics series

Hardback

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Description

Ancient Greek philosophers generally accept the claim that Îµá½Î´Î±Î¹Î¼Î¿Î½Î¯Î± is within our power to achieve, regardless of circumstance.

Conversely, external goods â€“ physical health, education, social standing â€“ are frequently present or absent due to circumstances beyond our control.

Can eudaimonism explain how more than a privileged elite can attain Îµá½Î´Î±Î¹Î¼Î¿Î½Î¯Î± when so few enjoy the requisite external goods? A satisfactory account of the relation between external goods and well-being must accommodate both the insight that there is an essential connection between prosperity and the flourishing life and that there is a real sense in which Îµá½Î´Î±Î¹Î¼Î¿Î½Î¯Î± is a self-sufficient concept.

The Â«applied intellectualistÂ» interpretation of eudaimonism defended here accommodates important insights of several ancient Greek traditions: Aristotleâ€™s account of human nature, specifically the role of external goods as necessary preconditions for leading a human life; Socratic and Stoic analysis that external goods are necessary constituents of moral action; and Platoâ€™s commitment to a criterion for judging the compatibility of external prosperity with a life of Îµá½Î´Î±Î¹Î¼Î¿Î½Î¯Î±. This text provides a comprehensive linguistic and ethical analysis of key terms and arguments across several centuries of ancient Greek ethical thought on this fascinating topic, making it an excellent foundation for an upper-division undergraduate seminar in ancient Greek ethics, virtue ethics, or applied ethics.