Plato on Eudaimonia
Plato on Eudaimonia
In various Platonic dialogues we meet phrases like ‘first friend’, ‘be happy’, ‘doing well’ used to connote a final end of action. Related goods may be useful instruments (but their use needs to be guided by reason), or aspects of acting well. The final end of action is realized in action, and is not a consequence of action. eudaimonia is a goal set before each agent as soon as he starts to act; it is not chosen and cannot be renounced. This conception underlies the Socratic paradox, ‘No one does evil willingly.’ The value of acting well consists in order and structure, values also found in the universe outside the world of action.
Keywords: eudaimonia, doing well, acting well, good, luck
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