Book 1
1
The manTheognis (255 f. with slight variation, quoted also in Aristot. Nic. Eth. 1099a 27. who at Delos set forth in the precinct of the god his own opinion composed an inscription for the forecourt of the temple of Leto in which he distinguished goodness, beauty and pleasantness as not all being properties of the same thing. His verses are: JusticeOr Righteousness ; the term includes more than justice. is fairest, and Health is best, But to win one’s desire is the pleasantest. Theog. 255f. But for our part let us not allow that he is right; for HappinessOr Well-being ; the Greek word is entirely noncommittal and does not necessarily denote a state of feeling, consciousness of welfare. is at once the pleasantest and the fairest and best of all things whatever.
2
About every thing and every natural species there are many views that involve difficulty and require examination; of these some relate only to our knowledge of the thing, others deal also with modes of acquiring it and of acting in relation to it.
3
As to all those views therefore that involve only speculative philosophy, we must say whatever may be proper to the inquiry when the suitable occasion occurs.
