Book 1
1
Now to examine all the opinions that any people hold about happiness is a superfluous taskCf. Aristot. Nic. Eth. 1095a 28-30, b 19ff. For children and the sick and insane have many opinions which no sensible man would discuss, for these persons need not argument but the former time in which to grow up and alter and the latter medical or official chastisement (treatment with drugs being chastisement just as much as flogging is).
2
And similarly it is also superfluous to examine the opinions of the multitudeCf. Aristot. Nic. Eth. 1095b 19. either; for they talk at random about almost everything, and especially about happiness. We ought to examine only the opinions of the wiseThe words translated happiness and the opinions of the wise are conjectural insertions in the Greek.; for it is out of place to apply reasoning to those who do not need reasoning at all, but experience.
3
But since every subject has special difficulties related to it, it is clear that there are such in regard to the highest life and the best mode of existence; it is then well to examine the opinions putting these difficulties, since the refutations advanced by those who challenge them are demonstrations of the theories that are opposed to them.
