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Pain is always evil, or the word "evil" has no meaning. BUT.... "And since pleasure is our first and native good, for that reason we do not choose every pleas
by NoGravitas 9y ago
Pain is always evil, or the word "evil" has no meaning.
BUT....
"And since pleasure is our first and native good, for that reason we do not choose every pleasure whatsoever, but will often pass over many pleasures when a greater annoyance ensues from them. And often we consider pains superior to pleasures when submission to the pains for a long time brings us as a consequence a greater pleasure. While therefore all pleasure because it is naturally akin to us is good, not all pleasure is should be chosen, just as all pain is an evil and yet not all pain is to be shunned. It is, however, by measuring one against another, and by looking at the conveniences and inconveniences, that all these matters must be judged. Sometimes we treat the good as an evil, and the evil, on the contrary, as a good." (Epicurus, letter to Menoeceus)
- DoofusOfDeath 9y ago> Pain is always evil, or the word "evil" has no meaning. What about pain that teaches us to avoid harm? E.g., the pain from touching a hot stove?
- NoGravitas 9y agoI think the quote covers that.