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Single Idea 506

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

Full Idea

Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.

Gist of Idea

Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not an adult

Source

Democritus (attrib) (reports [c.250 BCE], B070)

Book Ref

'Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers', ed/tr. Freeman,Kathleen [Harvard 1957], p.101


A Reaction

Not factually correct, since the world is full of adults who have immoderate desires (notably for money). However, there are plenty of grown ups who don't seem very adult.


The 13 ideas with the same theme [what is the point of pleasure?]:

Good and bad people seem to experience equal amounts of pleasure and pain [Plato]
It is a mistake to think that the most violent pleasure or pain is therefore the truest reality [Plato]
Intense pleasure and pain are not felt in a good body, but in a worthless one [Plato]
Everything that takes place naturally is pleasant [Plato]
Character is revealed by the pleasures and pains people feel [Aristotle]
Feeling inappropriate pleasure or pain affects conduct, and is central to morality [Aristotle]
Pleasure and virtue entail one another [Epicurus]
Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not an adult [Democritus (attr)]
Nature only wants two things: freedom from pain, and pleasure [Lucretius]
We are scared of death - except when we are immersed in pleasure! [Seneca]
Animals don't value pleasure, as they cease sexual intercourse after impregnation [Plutarch]
Pleasure and pain control all human desires and duties [Bentham]
Pleasure serves to maintain our relationship with its source [Cochrane]