more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 14056
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / c. Value of pleasure
]
Full Idea
We are in need of pleasure only when we are in pain because of the absence of pleasure, and when we are not in pain, then we no longer need pleasure.
Gist of Idea
We only need pleasure when we have the pain of desire
Source
Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus [c.291 BCE], 128)
Book Ref
Epicurus: 'The Epicurus Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1994], p.30
A Reaction
This Buddhist aspiration to eliminate desire has no appeal for me. It just sounds like a recipe for boredom, and an aversion to risk-taking. Start by asking what is best in life; it inevitably involves pleasure of some sort. Anyway, desire isn't painful.
The
27 ideas
with the same theme
[how important is pleasure in life?]:
|
8142
|
The wise prefer good to pleasure; the foolish are drawn to pleasure by desire
[Anon (Upan)]
|
|
240
|
It would be strange if the gods rewarded those who experienced the most pleasure in life
[Plato]
|
|
157
|
Most pleasure is release from pain, and is therefore not worthwhile
[Plato]
|
|
371
|
Reason, memory, truth and wisdom are far better than pleasure, for those who can attain them
[Plato]
|
|
373
|
Pleasure is certainly very pleasant, but it doesn't follow that all pleasures are good
[Plato]
|
|
376
|
Would you prefer a life of pleasure without reason, or one of reason without pleasure?
[Plato]
|
|
379
|
The good must be sufficient and perfect, and neither intellect nor pleasure are that
[Plato]
|
|
382
|
It is unlikely that the gods feel either pleasure or pain
[Plato]
|
|
197
|
Some pleasures are not good, and some pains are not evil
[Plato]
|
|
200
|
People tend only to disapprove of pleasure if it leads to pain, or prevents future pleasure
[Plato]
|
|
2134
|
Philosophers are concerned with totally non-physical pleasures
[Plato]
|
|
5259
|
If we criticise bodily pleasures as licentious and bad, why do we consider their opposite, pain, to be bad?
[Aristotle]
|
|
96
|
Nobody would choose the mentality of a child, even if they had the greatest childish pleasures
[Aristotle]
|
|
97
|
There are many things we would want even if they brought no pleasure
[Aristotle]
|
|
98
|
It is right to pursue pleasure, because it enhances life, and life is a thing to choose
[Aristotle]
|
|
99
|
If happiness were mere amusement it wouldn't be worth a lifetime's effort
[Aristotle]
|
|
14056
|
We only need pleasure when we have the pain of desire
[Epicurus]
|
|
508
|
Only accept beneficial pleasures
[Democritus (attr)]
|
|
20845
|
There are shameful pleasures, and nothing shameful is good, so pleasure is not a good
[Chrysippus, by Diog. Laertius]
|
|
20840
|
Stoics say pleasure is at most a byproduct of finding what is suitable for us
[Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
|
|
3071
|
Justice has no virtue opposed to it, but pleasure has temperance opposed to it
[Aurelius]
|
|
22269
|
We must fight fiercely to hang on to the few pleasures which survive into old age
[Montaigne]
|
|
8104
|
What will you think of pleasures when you no longer enjoy them?
[Joubert]
|
|
21466
|
Pleasure is weaker, and pain stronger, than we expect
[Schopenhauer]
|
|
5905
|
We clearly value good character or understanding, as well as pleasure
[Ross]
|
|
5929
|
No one thinks it doesn't matter whether pleasure is virtuously or viciously acquired
[Ross]
|
|
24165
|
Pleasure has an intrinsic (independent) value, but that is not a final (for its own sake) value
[Cochrane]
|