Epithymiai (Desires)

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  • Epicurus divided desires into those that are natural and necessary, those that are natural but not necessary, and those that are "empty," arising from groundless opinion and impossible to satisfy. The classification is a tool for calculating which pleasures are worth their costs, not a rule limiting us to the natural and necessary desires alone.

    Greek ἐπιθυμίαι (epithymiai): natural and necessary, natural but unnecessary, and empty (kenai)

    Epicurus divided desires into those that are natural and necessary, those that are natural but not necessary, and those that are "empty," arising from groundless opinion and impossible to satisfy. The classification is a tool for calculating which pleasures are worth their costs, not a rule limiting us to the natural and necessary desires alone.

    1. Key Texts

    Quote from Epicurus, Principal Doctrine 29

    Of desires, some are natural and necessary, others are natural and not necessary, and others are neither natural nor necessary but are due to idle imagination. (tr. Long & Sedley)

    2. See Also

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