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Single Idea 2123

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / f. Dangers of pleasure ]

Full Idea

Self-discipline and excessive pleasure cannot go together, because pleasure deranges people just as much as distress. Excessive pleasure cannot partner any of the other virtues.

Gist of Idea

Excessive pleasure deranges people, making the other virtues impossible

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 402e)

Book Ref

Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1993], p.101

A Reaction

This invites an examination of the word 'excessive', which seems too subjective. Aristotle says any good is improved by the addition of pleasure. Pleasure can certainly derange people.

The 14 ideas with the same theme [how can pleasure be harmful?]:

5155 It is hard to fight against emotion, but harder still to fight against pleasure [Heraclitus]
442 Pleasures are like pirates - if you are caught they drown you in a sea of pleasures [Epicharmus]
1664 I would rather go mad than experience pleasure [Antisthenes (I)]
4319 In a fool's mind desire is like a leaky jar, insatiable in its desires, and order and contentment are better [Plato]
132 If happiness is the satisfaction of desires, then a life of scratching itches should be happiness [Plato]
264 The conquest of pleasure is the noblest victory of all [Plato]
2123 Excessive pleasure deranges people, making the other virtues impossible [Plato]
2158 Pleasure-seekers desperately seek illusory satisfaction, like filling a leaky vessel [Plato]
84 The greater the pleasure, the greater the hindrance to thought [Aristotle]
523 It is as brave to master pleasure as to overcome the enemy [Democritus (attr)]
7899 Even divine pleasure will not satisfy the wise, as it is insatiable, and leads to pain [Anon (Dham)]
20852 Rapture is a breakdown of virtue [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
13323 The whole point of pleasure-seeking is novelty, and abandoning established ways [Seneca]
4859 Pleasure is only bad in so far as it hinders a man's capability for action [Spinoza]