Pleasure in Ancient Greek Philosophy

This chapter discusses Epicurean and Cyrenaic conceptions of pleasure in relation to one another. The reason for juxtaposing their contributions will be clear shortly. For now, let it suffice to say that the Epicureans and Cyrenaics contend over the relation between and the very existence of what they call “katastematic” and “kinetic” pleasures. These terms will be explained in due course. To begin, let us introduce the antagonists.

Epicurus was born in 341 bce and raised on the island of Samos. His father was an Athenian citizen, and at this time Samos was subject to Athenian control. Epicurus left Samos for Athens for a brief stint of mandatory military service in 323. This service happened to coincide with the death of Alexander the Great, upon which the Athenians revolted from Macedonia. Among the ramifications of this revolt was that Alexander’s general Perdiccas expelled the Athenian settlers on Samos. Epicurus’ family emigrated across the water to Colophon on the Ionian coast. This is where Epicurus presumably joined them upon his return from Athens in 322/321. He remained in the east for the next fifteen odd years.