Abstract

To speak of well-being, as they frequently do, the characters in Plato’s dialogues use several expressions interchangeably, including the infinitive phrases “to live well” (eu zēn), “to be successful” (eudaimonein), and “to do well” (eu prattein), as well as the related abstract nouns “success” and “doing well” (eudaimonia, eupragia). The concept invoked by these expressions plays two central roles in their discussions, as some characters propose that well-being is, or at least should be, the ultimate goal for both individual human action and political decision making.