But since our
object is to discover the best form of government, that, namely, under
which a city will be best governed, and since the city is best
governed which has the greatest opportunity of obtaining happiness, it
is evident that we must clearly ascertain the nature of happiness.
We maintain, and have said in the Ethics, if the arguments there
adduced are of any value, that happiness is the realization and
perfect exercise of virtue, and this not conditional, but absolute.
And I used the term 'conditional' to express that which is
indispensable, and 'absolute' to express that which is good in itself.
Take the case of just actions; just punishments and chastisements do
indeed spring from a good principle, but they are good only because we
cannot do without them- it would be better that neither individuals
nor states should need anything of the sort- but actions which aim
at honor and advantage are absolutely the best. The conditional action
is only the choice of a lesser evil; whereas these are the
foundation and creation of good. A good man may make the best even
of poverty and disease, and the other ills of life; but he can only
attain happiness under the opposite conditions (for this also has been
determined in accordance with ethical arguments, that the good man
is he for whom, because he is virtuous, the things that are absolutely
good are good; it is also plain that his use of these goods must be
virtuous and in the absolute sense good).
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