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How did Epicurus weigh pleasure against pain when making choices?
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Epicureanism
Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280ā270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.
In Epicureanism, Epicurus taught that the ultimate goal of a happy life is the absence of pain in the body and trouble in the mind. When making choices, he advocated for a rational calculus to weigh the damages and advantages of any desire.12
This process involves several key considerations:
- Calculus of Pleasure and Pain: One must measure the consequences of actions, sometimes choosing to face pain with courage if the resulting pleasure is of longer duration.2
- Limits of Desire: Epicurus emphasized that science and reason help individuals grasp the limits of pain and desires, preventing unnecessary suffering.2
- Static vs. Kinetic Pleasure: He distinguished between "kinetic" pleasure (the pleasure of sense) and "static" pleasure (the absence of pain). He viewed the latter as the equilibrium of a being with itself.2
- Prudence: By reducing needs to a minimum and living a withdrawn, quiet life, the wise person secures their happiness and avoids the pain associated with worldly competition and anxiety.12
Ultimately, Epicurus believed that if one uses reason to measure these limits, one can conquer the fear of pain and achieve a state of tranquility.2