Pleasure and madness at Filebo

Abstract

The paper analyses some passages of Plato ́s Philebus in which some connections between pleasure and madness are discussed. First (15D9-16A3), Socrates points to the excesses a young man tends to go through as he explores the articulate use of arguments, in a sort of enthusiasm that leads to situations of aporia. In the second passage (36E5-8), against the hypothesis of there being false pleasures, Protarchus suggests that not even in a state of madness would someone consider that they are having pleasure when, in fact, they are not. Thirdly (45D6-E4), the discussion turns to the experiencing of pleasure without any limits, that is, the lack of discernment and thereby of moderation are judged to be the equivalent of some kind of madness. The point is to evaluate the value of pleasure in the greater scope of the mixed life, with both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Finally (63D2-64A5), in the confrontation between pleasures and thoughts, it is brought to consideration how much the excess of some goes against the maintenance of others, leading souls to madness, forgetfulness and carelessness.