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Full Idea
The only reason the common man disapproves of pleasures is if they lead to pain and deprive us of future pleasures.
Gist of Idea
People tend only to disapprove of pleasure if it leads to pain, or prevents future pleasure
Source
Plato (Protagoras [c.380 BCE], 354a)
Book Ref
Plato: 'Protagoras and Meno', ed/tr. Guthrie,W K C [Penguin 1956], p.90
A Reaction
Plato has a strong sense that some pleasures are just innately depraved and wicked. If those pleasure don't hurt anyone, it is very hard to pinpoint what is wrong with them.
| 188 | Socrates did not believe that virtue could be taught [Plato] |
| 189 | If we punish wrong-doers, it shows that we believe virtue can be taught [Plato] |
| 190 | If asked whether justice itself is just or unjust, you would have to say that it is just [Plato] |
| 191 | Everything resembles everything else up to a point [Plato] |
| 192 | Only one thing can be contrary to something [Plato] |
| 193 | Some things are good even though they are not beneficial to men [Plato] |
| 20184 | The only real evil is loss of knowledge [Plato] |
| 197 | Some pleasures are not good, and some pains are not evil [Plato] |
| 20185 | The most important things in life are wisdom and knowledge [Plato] |
| 200 | People tend only to disapprove of pleasure if it leads to pain, or prevents future pleasure [Plato] |
| 202 | No one willingly and knowingly embraces evil [Plato] |
| 203 | Courage is knowing what should or shouldn't be feared [Plato] |
| 204 | Socrates is contradicting himself in claiming virtue can't be taught, but that it is knowledge [Plato] |