back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 387

[from 'Philebus' by Plato, in 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / b. Types of pleasure ]

Full Idea

A tiny little pleasure is, if uncontaminated by pain, always more pleasant, truer and finer than a large amount.

Clarification

'Fine' is the Greek word 'kalon', which also translates as 'beautiful'

Gist of Idea

A small pure pleasure is much finer than a large one contaminated with pain

Source

Plato (Philebus [c.353 BCE], 53b)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Philebus', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [Penguin 1982], p.124


A Reaction

More Platonic puritanism. Is a complete absence of pleasure the highest pleasure of all? I don't think I understand 'truer'. Why would a pleasure be false because it is intense?