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The Pleasures of Tranquillity

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  • Alex Voorhoeve

    (London School of Economics and Political Science)

Abstract

Epicurus posited that the best life involves the greatest pleasures. He also held that it involves attaining tranquillity. Many commentators, including Ken Binmore, have expressed scepticism that these two claims are compatible. For, they argue, Epicurus’ tranquil life is so austere that it is hard to see how it could be maximally pleasurable. Here, I offer an Epicurean account of the pleasures of tranquillity. I also consider different ways of valuing lives from a hedonistic point of view. Benthamite hedonists value lives by the sum of pleasures minus the sum of pains, weighted by intensity and duration. Meanwhile, Binmore proposes that Epicurus valued lives by their worst episode. In contrast, I outline an Epicurean argument for why the best life is one in which a person attains tranquillity and tastes its pleasures until death.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Voorhoeve, 2022. "The Pleasures of Tranquillity," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 185-197, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:39:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s41412-021-00115-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s41412-021-00115-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ken Binmore & Paul Klemperer, 2002. "The Biggest Auction Ever: the Sale of the British 3G Telecom Licences," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(478), pages 74-96, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Epicurus; Well-being; Hedonism; Value of life;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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