Epicurus and Aristotle
Jacob Magri
1st Year, Class 1A
Contrast the views that both Aristotle and Epicurus hold on pleasure
Epicurus tried to find the key of obtaining pleasure, so did Aristotle. Although they both have different theories about pleasure, they both agreed on the idea that actions aim to obtain pleasures. Pleasure is something that can be defined differently by each individual. Every person have a different idea on how we reach our desires. For Aristotle, our pleasures come through fulfilling human functions well and this can be provided by doing virtuous acts. On the other hand, Epicurus supports the idea that presence of pleasure and lack of pain can result to complete happiness.
For Epicurus, pleasure is based on satisfying one's desires. He distinguishes between two different types of pleasures: Moving pleasure and Static pleasure. Moving pleasure occur when someone is in the process of satisfying a desire, e.g. eating food when you are hungry. These pleasures involve the aspect of sensing, and these feelings are what most people call pleasure. However, Epicurus says that after the desires have been satisfied, (e.g., one has ate and is full), the state of satisfaction, of no longer being in need or want, is itself pleasurable. Epicurus calls this a 'static' pleasure, and says that these static pleasures are the best pleasures. Because of this, Epicurus denies that there is any state between pleasure and pain. When one has unfulfilled desires, this is painful, and when one no longer has unfulfilled desires, this state is the most pleasurable of all, not merely some intermediate state between pleasure and pain. Epicurus thinks that if one could banish the fear of God and death, then one can face the future with confidence and his desires will be satisfied. Hedonism is what many of us think of when we hear Epicurus' theory of pleasure, but Ataraxia, the experience of
1st Year, Class 1A
Contrast the views that both Aristotle and Epicurus hold on pleasure
Epicurus tried to find the key of obtaining pleasure, so did Aristotle. Although they both have different theories about pleasure, they both agreed on the idea that actions aim to obtain pleasures. Pleasure is something that can be defined differently by each individual. Every person have a different idea on how we reach our desires. For Aristotle, our pleasures come through fulfilling human functions well and this can be provided by doing virtuous acts. On the other hand, Epicurus supports the idea that presence of pleasure and lack of pain can result to complete happiness.
For Epicurus, pleasure is based on satisfying one's desires. He distinguishes between two different types of pleasures: Moving pleasure and Static pleasure. Moving pleasure occur when someone is in the process of satisfying a desire, e.g. eating food when you are hungry. These pleasures involve the aspect of sensing, and these feelings are what most people call pleasure. However, Epicurus says that after the desires have been satisfied, (e.g., one has ate and is full), the state of satisfaction, of no longer being in need or want, is itself pleasurable. Epicurus calls this a 'static' pleasure, and says that these static pleasures are the best pleasures. Because of this, Epicurus denies that there is any state between pleasure and pain. When one has unfulfilled desires, this is painful, and when one no longer has unfulfilled desires, this state is the most pleasurable of all, not merely some intermediate state between pleasure and pain. Epicurus thinks that if one could banish the fear of God and death, then one can face the future with confidence and his desires will be satisfied. Hedonism is what many of us think of when we hear Epicurus' theory of pleasure, but Ataraxia, the experience of