“Mental pleasure is better than bodily pleasure.”This is what Epicurus says, but is it true?
4 Comments
Highly though I esteem our Greek friend, I reject his false dualistic choice. I’d rephrase the observation: “Wouldn’t life be easier if human beings could separate mental from bodily pleasure? They cannot because brain-body are inseparable.”
Some things though, are mostly one or the other. Reading a good novel is primarily mental pleasure. Getting a good massage is primarily bodily pleasure. The novel might give rise to physical sensations, which might or might not be pleasurable; and the massage might generate mental response which might or might not be pleasureable. Reading Playboy (for us guys) could be in the middle – both mental and physical pleasure, depending on whether the physical response is viewed as pleasing or frustrating. 🙂
I think it’s a valid question; along the same line as, Would you rather read a good book or have sex? If stranded on a deserted island, would you rather have a library or a harem? Mentally, I can imagine some pretty spectacular stuff, but it sure doesn’t substitute for the “ordinary” stuff I get in reality. Epicurus would advocate the library. I’m not sure I’m that ascetic.
Epicurus might say it is only through the “mental” that one can touch God or experience Nirvana, or imagine paradise; and rate this as “better” than anything available via physical senses. Maybe so. But there’s something to be said for a dog’s life.
HarpShot said: “I think it’s a valid question; along the same line as, Would you rather read a good book or have sex? . . . . Reading Playboy (for us guys) could be in the middle – both mental and physical pleasure, depending on whether the physical response is viewed as pleasing or frustrating.”
Nice continuum work, HarpShot. The “either-or” hammer is too blunt a tool. In any case, only a skilled erotic imagination could establishwhere various jollies best fit on the scale from mind-to-body.
Still, a question which you think as valid as “Would you prefer a book or sex?” ain’t asking anything too helpful, IMO. Maybe men are more into this “either-or” universe. A visit to Epicurus’ library, for an intelligent, whimsical woman might mean: “First we read, then we frolic,” or “First Xes then a good book on sub-atomic physics.” Not mutually exclusive, even in the stacks. In any case, kudos to the Creator, creator, processes, gods, goddesses, whatevers — responsible for minds, books, and bodies.
Highly though I esteem our Greek friend, I reject his false dualistic choice. I’d rephrase the observation: “Wouldn’t life be easier if human beings could separate mental from bodily pleasure? They cannot because brain-body are inseparable.”
Some things though, are mostly one or the other. Reading a good novel is primarily mental pleasure. Getting a good massage is primarily bodily pleasure. The novel might give rise to physical sensations, which might or might not be pleasurable; and the massage might generate mental response which might or might not be pleasureable. Reading Playboy (for us guys) could be in the middle – both mental and physical pleasure, depending on whether the physical response is viewed as pleasing or frustrating. 🙂
I think it’s a valid question; along the same line as, Would you rather read a good book or have sex? If stranded on a deserted island, would you rather have a library or a harem? Mentally, I can imagine some pretty spectacular stuff, but it sure doesn’t substitute for the “ordinary” stuff I get in reality. Epicurus would advocate the library. I’m not sure I’m that ascetic.
Epicurus might say it is only through the “mental” that one can touch God or experience Nirvana, or imagine paradise; and rate this as “better” than anything available via physical senses. Maybe so. But there’s something to be said for a dog’s life.
HarpShot said: “I think it’s a valid question; along the same line as, Would you rather read a good book or have sex? . . . . Reading Playboy (for us guys) could be in the middle – both mental and physical pleasure, depending on whether the physical response is viewed as pleasing or frustrating.”
Nice continuum work, HarpShot. The “either-or” hammer is too blunt a tool. In any case, only a skilled erotic imagination could establishwhere various jollies best fit on the scale from mind-to-body.
Still, a question which you think as valid as “Would you prefer a book or sex?” ain’t asking anything too helpful, IMO. Maybe men are more into this “either-or” universe. A visit to Epicurus’ library, for an intelligent, whimsical woman might mean: “First we read, then we frolic,” or “First Xes then a good book on sub-atomic physics.” Not mutually exclusive, even in the stacks. In any case, kudos to the Creator, creator, processes, gods, goddesses, whatevers — responsible for minds, books, and bodies.
Nothing can beat making love to a beautiful woman.