Letter to Menoeceus

Letter to Menoeceus

Introduction

This paper discusses the various aspects of the statements made by Epicurus in “Letter to Menoeceus”. The author intends to elaborate the meaning of pleasure and its need. He further confers about the response of individuals against pleasure. The issues and challenges faced in acquiring a state of pleasure is complicated which should be considered in evaluating the pain and appropriate path to pleasure.

Discussion

Epicurus explains the need of pleasure in various states. It is regarded as the “need and desire of every person” (Evanston, 1998, pp.4). The person in pain knows the value of pleasure because pleasure is no longer needed in the absence of pain. Thus, it can be regarded as primary native good. He further stated that individuals pursues towards seeking pleasure as a prime and fundamental commodity. Epicurus carries the idea that certain desires are natural. Similarly, pleasure is considered as the starting point and goal of a happy life according to him. It is believed that happy life represents pleasure in the sense that person does not have to seek any further pleasure until the pain is faced by him. This concept leads to the idea of tradeoff and balance between pains in order to gain pleasure. However, there are various contradictions in this situation which should be observed.

The pleasure holds intrinsic value to satisfaction and gratitude which is preferred by people. They strive towards achieving this level of pleasure as a mark of fulfilling their desire. The concerns highly emphasize on these aspects of pleasure and viewed it as primary native good. The need of this good represents the desire of person to attain pleasure. Therefore, individuals constantly look forward to selecting options which lead them to happiness and pleasure (Evanston, 1998, pp.5).

Epicurus stated that not every pleasure is desirable. At times, pleasure is forgone over the pain if it is followed by too much unpleasantness. Similarly, it is considered as undesirable under some circumstances. He provides reasons for restrictions in seeking every pleasure. Some pleasures have consequences which must be evaluated before striving for any such pleasure. The successful and effective foresight can enlighten the payoff for pleasure. Thus, it is fairly easy for a person to evaluate the situation in which the pleasure is appropriate to achieve or forgo. The people who are obsessed with pleasure of any sort might choose a path of transgressions.

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