[Bananafish] Scratching an itch that's lasted for years...

[James Rovira]

Years ago I was discussing Aristotle's notion of revenge with Robbie
for some reason, and claimed that Aristotle believed a real man always
struck back.  I thought this was in his Ethics but couldn't find it
anywhere, so just had to let it go.  It's in the old archives, July
20, 2003:

http://www.roughdraft.org/JDS/JDS.ocon.jul03/0368.html

Anyway, just today I was reading Aristotle's Rhetoric and came across
the following quotation.  Aristotle is here describing a list of good
qualities for which someone would be praised.  At one point he
describes vengeance as a good quality:

"And to take just vengeance on enemies and not to be reconciled; for
to retaliate is just, and the just is honorable, and not to be
defeated is characteristic of a brave man" (Book 1, ch. 9.24).

I think the emphasis on "just" vengeance is important--this isn't a
random striking out, but is measured in terms of what is appropriate.

At any rate, there it is.  I'm not crazy.  Or, at least, not crazy in
-that- way.

Jim R

-- 
http://thephilosopersstone.blogspot.com