Ἐκ περιουσίας
superfluously, advantageously
Translated by Marcelo Boeri5 May 2002Vetting: high12 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] uselessly.1
Aristotle says superflously.2
"[They] having sent, superfluously, for Pamprepius too."3
So ek periousias means from great substance.4
"[The concept] 'superfluous' differs from 'necessary'. Now, necessary are those things without which it is impossible to exist. By contrast, superfluous are those things whose presence is not necessary and, as Aristotle says, [there is superfluity] when, the necessary things [for life] existing, one provides for himself some other things of value. For example, life is something necessary and good life is superfluous.5 For due to the presence of 'good', which is not necessary for existence, the necessary life is adorned. However, he says, the superfluities are better than necessities, for good life is better than life, and speaking well better than [merely] speaking. [But] the better things are not always preferable, even though they are preferable without qualification. For those things that are impossible for us, even though they are better than the possible things, are nevertheless not preferable. For immortality is better than longevity, but it is not preferable for us. Among the superfluities, some are clearly better, that is, preferable (such as speaking well is preferable to [merely] speaking); others are better, although they certainly are not preferable. For both to deal with philosophy and with theoretical activity is better than to make money, although they are not preferable for those who lack [what is necessary for life] and cannot exist in another way. Indeed this is the sense in which for a sick person to become healthy is preferable to dealing with philosophy."6
And Demosthenes in the [speech] On behalf of Ctesiphon [says]: myself, I am risking the ultimate, "but this man is prosecuting [me] ek periousias." Meaning from great substance.7
Aristotle says superflously.2
"[They] having sent, superfluously, for Pamprepius too."3
So ek periousias means from great substance.4
"[The concept] 'superfluous' differs from 'necessary'. Now, necessary are those things without which it is impossible to exist. By contrast, superfluous are those things whose presence is not necessary and, as Aristotle says, [there is superfluity] when, the necessary things [for life] existing, one provides for himself some other things of value. For example, life is something necessary and good life is superfluous.5 For due to the presence of 'good', which is not necessary for existence, the necessary life is adorned. However, he says, the superfluities are better than necessities, for good life is better than life, and speaking well better than [merely] speaking. [But] the better things are not always preferable, even though they are preferable without qualification. For those things that are impossible for us, even though they are better than the possible things, are nevertheless not preferable. For immortality is better than longevity, but it is not preferable for us. Among the superfluities, some are clearly better, that is, preferable (such as speaking well is preferable to [merely] speaking); others are better, although they certainly are not preferable. For both to deal with philosophy and with theoretical activity is better than to make money, although they are not preferable for those who lack [what is necessary for life] and cannot exist in another way. Indeed this is the sense in which for a sick person to become healthy is preferable to dealing with philosophy."6
And Demosthenes in the [speech] On behalf of Ctesiphon [says]: myself, I am risking the ultimate, "but this man is prosecuting [me] ek periousias." Meaning from great substance.7