Single Idea 1833

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / f. Good as pleasure]

Full Idea

Pleasure is the beginning and end of living happily, and we recognise this as the first good.

Gist of Idea

Pleasure is the first good in life

Source

Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus [c.291 BCE], 128)

Book Reference

Epicurus: 'The Epicurus Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1994], p.30


A Reaction

We might enquire what we would live for if our capacities for pleasure were surgically removed. Would we still experience intellectual curiosity, or an aspiration to some cold and remote goodness?