Talk:Principal Doctrine 19
From Epicurus Wiki
The true time is composed of many minimum sensory moments, while the conventional time is mentally joined to motions and events ("accident of accidents"). Perceivable time is ever the minimum and present one. The gods are living in an infinite series of moments, but the depletable time of men may be perceived in the same way if one concentrates (katepyknouto) on present moment.
A pleasures chain with few pain breakdown (a 'longer pleasure') is certainly a better choice, but each chain ring - but combined tactile ones - is lived in a exclusive minimum sensory moment, and when one dies serenely replete, through that reasoning, he loses ever the same qualitative moment at the age of twenty like at ninety: "Every man passes out of life as if he had just been born " [V.S. 60 ]. "any length of time naturally produces pleasure for all - provided one recognizes pleasure's limits - and because of the fact that at the same time the flesh right now receives the amount of pleasure equal to what is provided by an unlimited length of time". [Phild, On Death]
The true 'logismos' must refer whether to internal present sensation, or to 'prolepsis' of atomistic minimum time's: not to conventional time. The logismos (calculation) is able to calculate/to weight pleasures against ensuing troubles, not to fix conventional (empty) and theoretic value hierarchies. "By reasoning, memory of similarities and differences, and knowledge of consequences and sharp insight the wise man avoids all things that contribute nothing to happiness." [Rhet. II, pp. 30-31]. Therefore in single moment or in infinite moments each pure (without concurrent pains from other 'pores') pleasure is "equal", i.e. equally valid. If a shorter or less intense pleasure were less valid, it wouldn't be a pleasure any more. For Aristotle too: "In no time one would have a pleasure which, with a larger length, would be more complete. [...] In pleasure the form is perfect in every time' s moment" [To Nicomachus Ethics B, X, 3]. We think pleasures as differentiated because they are always linked with different things, causes, projects. Katapyknosis try to 'put brackets' round these links and to expand time.
