Pain (Algedon)

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  • Pain, the only thing bad in itself, as pleasure is the only thing good in itself. Epicurus taught that intense pain is brief and long-lasting pain is mild, so pain need not be feared.

    Greek ἀλγηδών (algēdōn), also πόνος (ponos); Latin dolor

    1. Key Texts

    Quote from Epicurus, Principal Doctrine 4

    Pain does not last continuously in the flesh: when acute it is there for a very short time, while the pain which just exceeds the pleasure in the flesh does not persist for many days; and chronic illnesses contain an excess of pleasure in the flesh over pain. (tr. Long & Sedley)

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