Subject
Pleasure -- Early works to 1800 Books
Best books
Plato
Philebus
"Philebus" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written around 360-347 BC. It presents a debate between Socrates and two young Athenians about whether pleasure or reason constitutes the highest good. The conversation explores the nature and hierarchy of different pleasures, distinguishing between beneficial and harmful forms. Through this ethical investigation, Socrates examines broader questions of being, knowledge, and proper measure. The dialogue concludes with a universal value order that assigns pleasure its appropriate—but subordinate—place in the good life.
Plato
Φίληβος
"Φίληβος" by Plato is a dialogue written between 360 and 347 BC. It presents a fictional debate between Socrates and two young Athenians about whether pleasure or reason constitutes the highest good. Through careful analysis of different types of pleasure and their varying worth, Socrates challenges the hedonistic view that pleasure is the absolute Good. The dialogue explores fundamental questions about ethics, value hierarchies, and the nature of a successful life, ultimately proposing that proper measure and balance matter more than pleasure alone.
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