Book K

Abstract

After what has been said, perhaps a discussion of pleasure comes next; for pleasure is thought to be closely associated with human nature most of all, and this is the reason why we guide the education of the young by means of pleasure and pain. And it also seems that to enjoy the things we should and to hate the things we should contribute most to the formation of virtuous character, for these¹ are present with us throughout our life and have influence and power in forming virtue and making our life happy, since we deliberately choose what is pleasant and avoid what is painful. And it would seem that we should least of all omit the discussion of such matters, especially when there is much disagreement concerning them. For some thinkers say that the good is pleasure,² but others, taking the contrary position, say that pleasure is altogether bad, and some of the latter are perhaps convinced that such is actually the case,³ while others think that to represent pleasure as bad has a better effect on our way of life, even if this is not so, for they think that most men are inclined towards pleasures and are slaves of pleasures and hence should be led towards the contrary direction, since it is in this way that they will arrive at the mean.⁴