Principal Doctrines, 3

Epicurus  translated by Peter Saint-Andre

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3The limit of enjoyment is the removal of all pains. Wherever and for however long pleasure is present, there is neither bodily pain nor mental distress.[2]

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Notes

  • [2] The word ἡδονή is often translated solely as "pleasure"; however, depending on the context I also translate it as "delight", "joy", or "enjoyment" because the Greek word ἡδονή refers to any physical, emotional, or mental state that is filled with sweetness (ἡδύς), whereas the English word "pleasure" carries stronger connotations of a purely physical state (although compare phrases such as "the pleasures of philosophy"). Furthermore, although there is no hard and fast distinction between ἄλγος as bodily pain and λυπούμενος as mental distress, the former word tends to be used more in relation to the body and the latter more in relation to the mind or emotions.