- Aristotle's not willing to let go of the idea that the fortunes of a person's descendants have something to do with the person's happiness.
- He's speaking of people that are both living and dead. For the living, it certainly makes a difference whether friends and descendants are well and prospering.
- It depends, however, on when things befall them and how close they are to you.
- The same kind of thing happens with the dead.
- They're affected by the fortunes of their loved ones, but not so much that they can be made happy or miserable (if they weren't already).