Book 1 / Chapter 12
Paragraph 2 - The Supremacy of Pleasure and Happiness
Explanation - Part By Part
"Eudoxus also seems to have been right in his method of advocating the supremacy of pleasure; he thought that the fact that, though a good, it is not praised indicated it to be better than the things that are praised, and that this is what God and the good are; for by reference to these all other things are judged."
Aristotle is referencing the philosopher Eudoxus, who argued that pleasure is supremely good. Eudoxus believed that the fact pleasure is considered inherently "good," without the need for praise, makes it superior to things that are praised. Praise is often reserved for things that serve a purpose or lead to something else (like virtues that enable noble actions), but things like God or the ultimate "good" are not merely praised — they are admired as standards by which everything else is judged. In Eudoxus's reasoning, this places pleasure in the category of ultimate goods, like the divine or the highest principles, which are beyond mere praise because of their intrinsic value and importance.
"Praise is appropriate to virtue, for as a result of virtue men tend to do noble deeds, but encomia are bestowed on acts, whether of the body or of the soul."
This part emphasizes a difference between "praise" and "encomia" (a term referring to formal expressions of high admiration or celebration). Aristotle asserts that virtue—the moral excellence that leads people to act nobly—receives praise because it represents a person's character or quality that enables noble actions. On the other hand, encomia are reserved for specific actions, whether they involve the body (e.g., athletic feats) or the soul (e.g., acts of courage or wisdom). Essentially, virtue is about the kind of person someone is, and praise recognizes this broader, underlying quality. In contrast, encomia celebrate particular impressive deeds that are the result of those qualities.
"But perhaps nicety in these matters is more proper to those who have made a study of encomia; to us it is clear from what has been said that happiness is among the things that are prized and perfect."
Aristotle is saying that diving into detailed distinctions about how we praise and celebrate things (like crafting perfect praises or encomia — formal expressions of praise) is a task better suited for people who specialize in that sort of rhetorical art. However, for his purposes in this text, he wants to focus on something broader and clearer: happiness is not merely something we admire or praise. It is something far higher — it is among the most valuable and complete things in life. It stands apart as "perfect," meaning it fulfills its purpose entirely and is the ultimate end we all strive toward. Happiness, therefore, occupies a unique and exalted role in human existence.
"It seems to be so also from the fact that it is a first principle; for it is for the sake of this that we all do all that we do, and the first principle and cause of goods is, we claim, something prized and divine."
Aristotle is emphasizing that happiness (eudaimonia) holds a special and foundational place in human life. He argues that happiness is not just another good thing to be pursued or praised like virtues or other qualities—it is the ultimate goal, the first principle. By "first principle," he means that happiness is the overriding purpose or reason behind everything we do. All our actions, choices, and efforts ultimately aim at achieving happiness, whether directly or indirectly.
Moreover, Aristotle connects this concept of happiness to something "prized and divine." By this, he suggests that happiness is not a means to something else (as, for example, wealth is often pursued for the sake of comfort or security) but is desired as an end in itself. It’s ultimate, self-sufficient, and inherently valuable—qualities that elevate it to the highest level of human aspirations, even comparable to something sacred or godlike. Happiness, in this view, is truly the highest good that anchors and justifies all other pursuits.
In essence, Aristotle sees happiness not just as a fleeting feeling of pleasure but as the central purpose and meaning of human life—a guiding principle for how we should live and strive.