Aristotle, and W. Rhys Roberts. Rhetoric. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2004. Kindle Electronic Edition.
Book I, chapter 6
Aristotle now articulates the different goals an orator would have. In politics the desire is finding how to accomplish a task. “Further utility is a good thing. We ought therefore to assure ourselves of the main facts about Goodness and Utility in general” (Aristotle I.6, B 1362a). A good thing is “that which ought to be chosen for its own sake” (Aristotle 1.6, B 1362b). Aristotle adds several other possibilities, all ultimately identifying the good thing as what is good or for good, or leads to good. The good is learned by observing what people and animals strive for, protect, or derive well-being from (Aristotle 1.6, B 1362b). Aristotle also includes as good that which would annoy our adversaries (Aristotle 1.6, B 1363a).