Display MoreWhy does Epicurus consider the absence of pain to be pleasure?
When pain is absent from the body, the appreciation of that experience is mentally enjoyable.
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And here is a full list of pleasures:
- enjoyable and pleasant bodily sensations (sights, sounds, tastes, touch, smell, etc.)
- the cessation of pain in the body (when pain is no longer present) (pain = sharp, piercing, burning, stinging, throbing, heavy)
- awareness that the body is healthy (no pain present)
- enjoyable and pleasant mental feelings and thoughts (joy, clarity, calm, strength, gratitude)
- the cessation of unpleasant emotions (fear, worry, anxiety)
- awareness of a clear mind free from unpleasant emotions (fear, worry, anxiety)
A good list about Pleasures.
One question:
I see they some include/not include awareness/ attention / appreciation, so there is an active / virtuous activity to feel these pleasures.
Are they then all kinetic pleasures ?
Or what is when I am not aware of the absence of pain, is the absence of pain than a static ( kastatematic) pleasure ?
Or is this a false categorizing ?
Do I need a constant/active awareness for pleasure?
Is there such a thing as nonrational and rational pleasure?
As the 1. comes automatic from the body like eating tasteful, the 2. from eg. Gratefulness/ appreciation ?