Book 7
1
(1) (a) In the first place (i.) the good has two meanings: it means both that which is good absolutely, and that which is good for somebody, or relatively. Consequently the term good has the same double meaning when applied to men’s natures and dispositions; and therefore also when applied to movements and to processes. Also those processes which are thought to be bad will in some cases, though bad absolutely, be not bad relatively, but in fact desirable for a particular person, or in other cases, though not even desirable generally for the particular person, nevertheless desirable for him in particular circumstances and for a short time, although not really desirable. And some such processesCertain felt processes towards a natural state (9.4) , which are obviously not good, are not really pleasant either. are not really pleasures at all, but only seem to be so: I mean the painful processes that are undergone for their curative effects, for instance, treatment applied to the sick.
