Section 1: Two opposed views about pleasure

Perhaps we should next discuss pleasure. For pleasure is thought to be most intimately connected with our human nature, which is the reason why in educating the young we steer them by the rudders of pleasure and pain. It is also thought that to enjoy the things we should and to hate the things we should has the greatest bearing on virtue of character. For these things extend right through life, with a weight and power of their own in respect both to virtue and to the happy life, since people choose what is pleasant and avoid what is painful. And such things, it will be thought, we should least of all omit to discuss, especially since they are often disputed.

For some say pleasure is the highest good, while others, on the contrary, say it is thoroughly bad–some no doubt being persuaded that the facts are so, and others thinking it has a better effect on our life to present pleasure as a bad thing even if it is not; for most people (they think) incline towards it and are the slaves of their pleasures, for which reason they ought to lead them in the opposite direction, since thus they will reach the middle state.

But surely this is not correct. For arguments about matters concerned with feelings and actions are less reliable than facts. And so when they clash with the facts of perception they are despised, and discredit the truth as well. If a person who condemns pleasure is once seen to be aiming at it, his inclining towards it is thought to imply that it is all worthy of being aimed at. For most people are not good at drawing distinctions. True arguments, then, seem most useful, not only with a view to knowledge, but with a view to life too. For since they harmonize with the facts they are believed, and so they stimulate those who understand them to live accordingly.

Enough of such questions. Let us proceed to review the opinions that have been expressed about pleasure.