I’ll admit I do not think this fits. A drink is just another pleasure within the meal, not the thing that gives all the other pleasures their order and security. This makes established pleasures sound like an optional side item.
In my analogy from yesterday (over in this post), individual active pleasures are like bricks. Each one is genuinely good, but no single pleasure – or even a random pile of pleasures – automatically produces a complete good life.
Stable pleasure is like the completed building: the secure condition created when pleasures are arranged intelligently through prudence and friendship.
I’ll admit I do not think this fits. A drink is just another pleasure within the meal, not the thing that gives all the other pleasures their order and security. This makes established pleasures sound like an optional side item.
My analogy may not work for everyone...I was thinking about it this way:
If you were invited over to someone's house for dinner, and they served you a full dinner, but did not serve anything at all to drink with the dinner (no water, no lemonade, no wine, no nothing, etc.) then the meal would be lacking in something -- your total pleasure would be incomplete. Whether or not the meal is simple or extravagant is irrelevant, because there is still something else needed...and the pleasure of the meal would be "mixed" with a sense of discomfort. And I think that this is the point of PD10, and also PD12.
Hoping this is the right thread.
I listened to a very interesting interview: https://www.worldsciencefestival.com/videos/whats-b…rything-you-do/
The interview of Brian Greene with Sheldon Solomon on his career studying: What's Behind Everything We Do. In a nutshell Sheldon says it is anxiety over the fear of death. And that anxiety is behind everything we do, and can affect important decisions that affect others. At one point he mentions Lucretius. I posted a comment to the interview as follows: "When Dr. Solomon mentioned Lucretius, he was referring to the Roman philosopher's long poem titled De Rerum Natura. This work was dedicated to the Greek philosopher Epicurus who taught that we should not fear gods, not fear death, know that pleasure in life is easy to attain, and that pain and suffering can be managed easily. This was called the Tetrapharmikon, or four cures. Solomon said overcoming death anxiety “by the thorough contemplation of reality.” I think an inquiry into the teaching of Epicurus may very well teach us how to contemplate reality. A better personal life is possible, and who know how far that might go if Epicurus was taught widely."
The link above may or may not work for you. If it doesn't you can find it on Youtube. P.S. I listened on 1.5x speed. Love to hear any comments on the interview.
