What is pleasure?

Do this poll please! 

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Modern meaning of pleasure

Let me tell you what pleasure was to me in my late teens/early twenties, pleasure to me was any physical sensation which I sought after but primarily sex and alcohol. Now is there anything wrong with getting pleasure from these things? Not at all it's great but to confine the true splendor of pleasure to just the physical sensations does a big disservice to what pleasure truly is.

Epicurean pleasure

Pleasure is the goal of Epicureans, we seek it and it makes us feel good it's not some intangible abstract ideal which we can never attain such as virtue or God. A big misconception people seem to have is that they look at pleasure using the modern lens meaning that the seek pleasure only in the flesh but neglect mental pleasures or rather think that pleasure is JUST physical.

The word pleasure is the most accurate word we have in the English language to describe what Epicurus meant but it is still lacking. This explanation  should help improve our understanding of what Epicurus meant

"The word ἡδονή is often translated solely as "pleasure"; however, depending on the context I also translate it as "joy", "delight", "enjoyment", or even "happiness" in the modern sense 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"). "  - Translated by Peter Saint-Andre (2008) Source : monadnock

With the help of this translation we can clearly see what Epicurus really meant by pleasure, it encompasses all of faculties for experiencing pleasure not just the physical sensation. 

A definition of "Epicurean" pleasure

Pleasure isn't exclusive to Epicurus but for the sake of clarity I will refer to it as "Epicurean pleasure". 

I think a good definition of what Epicurean pleasure is, is the following:

 "Any mental, physical or emotional state/sensation which you prefer to experience"  - Myself, probably.

Key word here being "you", recall we do not define what can and can't give you pleasure only you have the capacity to decide that for yourself using the natural ability called the feelings.

Are mental pleasures superior the physical pleasures?

This is a hot topic of debate, physical pleasures are typically much more intense such as an orgasm but mental pleasures last longer although is that always the case? 

" Yet we maintain that this does not preclude mental pleasures and pains from being much more intense than those of the body; since the body can feel only what is present to it at the moment, whereas the mind is also cognizant of the past and of the future. For granting that pain of body is equally painful, yet our sensation of pain can be enormously increased by the belief that some evil of unlimited magnitude and duration threatens to befall us hereafter. And the same consideration may be transferred to pleasure: a pleasure is greater if not accompanied by any apprehension of evil. This therefore clearly appears, that intense mental pleasure or distress contributes more to our happiness or misery than a bodily pleasure or pain of equal duration." - From On Ends by Cicero 

I'm interested to see the result of the poll, I think most people would rather have painful limbs for a week rather than experience anxiety for a week but I could be proven wrong. 

The above quote rings true for me, growing up in a catholic country and losing my virginity at 15 I felt a lot of fear over being judged by God, which took away from the experience but even a lesser example, take for example you're out with a few work mates for a pint but as usual it turns into 5 or 6, your mind is cognizant of the future, it knows you have to get up at 7 or 8 to get to work for 9 therefore you experience anxiety and the overall pleasure of being with friends for a few drinks is diminished.

On the flip side the mind can be used to greatly enhance any pleasure. I am total agreement with the above quote, the mind is a much more powerful tool in dictating the overall pleasure in ones life. (and recall also what pleasure truly is to us) 

Reason for writing this post

I wrote this post because of Cassius Amicus, he has been so helpful in my own understanding of Epicurus and is a mentor to me in Epicurean philosophy (although he would reject this title for sure, sorry Cassius!)

Here is his thoughts on pleasure and the above quote from Cicero, which he posted himself.

Cassius Amicus -  "Aside from the terrible tendency to dismiss the physics and the canonics, which we've also been discussing lately, I think there is far too little attention given to the meaning of "pleasure." I would wager that 80% of the people even in this group, and 99% of people out of it, think of purely physical sensations when they think of pleasure.

For example, they think about such things as Lucretius' Example of lounging in the grass with friends at the side of a river. But if the record from Torquatus is correct, as I think it is, then Epicurus himself stressed mental pleasure in his own life, such as when he valued the company of his fellow school members more than the pain of his physical problems on the last day of his life. And if mental pleasures are even more varied that physical pleasures (which I also think is clear) then far from focusing on "grazing in the grass" on the side of a river, our example is more like that of Epicurus himself, in which it is least as pleasurable, if not more pleasurable, to help lead or participate in a worldwide philosophical revolution. Which is not to say that we need to do the impossible of converting everyone into being a friend, but that as Epicurus said we live the life closest to being "gods among men" when we focus our attention on those things that are eternally true, and how we fit as individuals fit into them."

Does this mean that we should just abandon physical pleasures? Hell no, physical pleasures are great, it's self evident I don't need to convince you of that.