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Single Idea 5259

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

Full Idea

Those who hold that bodily pleasures, which are the concern of the licentious man, are not desirable, ought to consider why in that case the pains that are contrary to them are bad.

Gist of Idea

If we criticise bodily pleasures as licentious and bad, why do we consider their opposite, pain, to be bad?

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1154a08)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.255

A Reaction

This seems a simple and effective argument against 'puritanical' views, which sometimes appear in Plato, and in the Stoics (where bodily pleasures are 'indifferent'). Still, I think most people overvalue bodily pleasure.

The 26 ideas with the same theme [how important is pleasure in life?]:

8142 The wise prefer good to pleasure; the foolish are drawn to pleasure by desire [Anon (Upan)]
240 It would be strange if the gods rewarded those who experienced the most pleasure in life [Plato]
157 Most pleasure is release from pain, and is therefore not worthwhile [Plato]
371 Reason, memory, truth and wisdom are far better than pleasure, for those who can attain them [Plato]
373 Pleasure is certainly very pleasant, but it doesn't follow that all pleasures are good [Plato]
376 Would you prefer a life of pleasure without reason, or one of reason without pleasure? [Plato]
379 The good must be sufficient and perfect, and neither intellect nor pleasure are that [Plato]
382 It is unlikely that the gods feel either pleasure or pain [Plato]
197 Some pleasures are not good, and some pains are not evil [Plato]
200 People tend only to disapprove of pleasure if it leads to pain, or prevents future pleasure [Plato]
2134 Philosophers are concerned with totally non-physical pleasures [Plato]
5259 If we criticise bodily pleasures as licentious and bad, why do we consider their opposite, pain, to be bad? [Aristotle]
96 Nobody would choose the mentality of a child, even if they had the greatest childish pleasures [Aristotle]
97 There are many things we would want even if they brought no pleasure [Aristotle]
98 It is right to pursue pleasure, because it enhances life, and life is a thing to choose [Aristotle]
99 If happiness were mere amusement it wouldn't be worth a lifetime's effort [Aristotle]
14056 We only need pleasure when we have the pain of desire [Epicurus]
508 Only accept beneficial pleasures [Democritus (attr)]
20845 There are shameful pleasures, and nothing shameful is good, so pleasure is not a good [Chrysippus, by Diog. Laertius]
20840 Stoics say pleasure is at most a byproduct of finding what is suitable for us [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
3071 Justice has no virtue opposed to it, but pleasure has temperance opposed to it [Aurelius]
22269 We must fight fiercely to hang on to the few pleasures which survive into old age [Montaigne]
8104 What will you think of pleasures when you no longer enjoy them? [Joubert]
21466 Pleasure is weaker, and pain stronger, than we expect [Schopenhauer]
5905 We clearly value good character or understanding, as well as pleasure [Ross]
5929 No one thinks it doesn't matter whether pleasure is virtuously or viciously acquired [Ross]