Single Idea 4847

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / a. Nature of pleasure]

Full Idea

By pleasure I shall signify a passive state wherein the mind passes to a greater perfection.

Gist of Idea

Pleasure is a passive state in which the mind increases in perfection

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], III Pr 11)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.138


A Reaction

A rather bizarre definition! He seems to be defining it as a state and as a process in the same sentence. It sounds to me like both a hedonist's charter, and nonsense. I'm with Plato and Aristotle, that pleasure is dangerous as it warps the mind.