Processes as pleasures in EN vii 11-14: a new approach

In this paper I propose a new interpretation of the difficult material in EN VII.11-14, arguing that we should reject the Standard Interpretation of EN VII.12, according to which pleasure is found only in complete activities. I propose a new interpretation on the basis of having reconsidered Aristotle’s project in EN VII.12: he is interested only in the source of pleasure, not in the experience. His central claim, then, is that pleasure (understood as source of pleasure) is a natural activity (when unimpeded) where ‘activity’ spans over both complete and incomplete activities. I show that this interpretation fits better with Aristotle's project of replacing Plato's definition of pleasure, as it fits better with the text, and is philosophically preferable, insofar as it commits Aristotle neither to denying that eating etc are pleasures in their own right, nor to begging the question against Plato.