"Aponia" ( grc, ἀπονία) means the absence of
pain
Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, ...
, and was regarded by the
Epicureans
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism.
Few writings by ...
to be the height of bodily pleasure.
As with the other
Hellenistic schools of philosophy, the
Epicureans
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism.
Few writings by ...
believed that the goal of human life is
happiness
Happiness, in the context of Mental health, mental or emotional states, is positive or Pleasure, pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishin ...
. The Epicureans defined pleasure as the absence of pain (mental and physical), and hence pleasure can only increase until the point in which pain is absent. Beyond this, pleasure cannot increase further, and indeed one cannot rationally seek bodily pleasure beyond the state of ''aponia''. For
Epicurus
Epicurus (; grc-gre, Ἐπίκουρος ; 341–270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. He was born on the Greek island of Samos to Athenian parents. Influenced ...
, ''aponia'' was one of the static (''katastematic'') pleasures,
[Diogenes Laërtius, x. 136] that is, a pleasure one has when there is no want or pain to be removed.
To achieve such a state, one has to experience kinetic pleasures, that is, a pleasure one has when want or pain is being removed.
See also
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Apatheia
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Ataraxia
''Ataraxia'' (Greek: ἀταραξία, from ("a-", negation) and ''tarachē'' "disturbance, trouble"; hence, "unperturbedness", generally translated as "imperturbability", "equanimity", or "tranquility") is a Greek term first used in Ancient Gre ...
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Freedom from want
Notes
References
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{{Ancient Greek philosophical concepts
Concepts in ancient Greek ethics
Concepts in ancient Greek philosophy of mind
Epicureanism
Theories in ancient Greek philosophy
sv:Epikuros#Aponia