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Single Idea 361

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

Full Idea

When anyone's soul feels a keen pleasure or pain it cannot help supposing that whatever causes the most violent emotion is the plainest and truest reality - which it is not.

Gist of Idea

It is a mistake to think that the most violent pleasure or pain is therefore the truest reality

Source

Plato (Phaedo [c.382 BCE], 084c)

Book Reference

Plato: 'The Last Days of Socrates', ed/tr. Tredennick,Hugh [Penguin 1969], p.136


A Reaction

Do people think that? Most people distinguish subjective from objective. Wounded soldiers are also aware of victory or defeat.