Investigation of ‘μέτρον’ in the Philebus – a critique of pleasure in Plato's later years

Bibliographic Data

ID21335628
AuthorsGuo Wenya (Nanjing University), Wenya Guo (Nanjing University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume69
Issue4
Pages2315-2335
Publication date2026-04-21
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInquiry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-174X • E-ISSN: 1502-3923
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0020174x.2023.2194324
OpenAlexW4361255714
LanguageEN
References cited14

In the Philebus, Plato considers pleasure to be part of the good life. Always despises pleasure, Plato, however, no longer insists on extreme rationalism, instead, he reconciles reason and pleasure with the fundamental principle of ‘measure’ In the Philebus, Plato considers ‘measure (μέτρον)’ to be of the highest value. He not only argues for the concrete application of ‘measure’ in the sensual world, but also confirms the metaphysical ground of ‘measure’. Many scholars have discussed the application of ‘measure’ from different perspectives, but the deep logical principle of ‘measure’ has not been clarified clearly yet. Actually, the thought of ‘measure’ involves the relationship between ideas and sensual things. On the basis of the redefinition of this relationship, Plato proposes that a life that mixes reason and pleasure is a good one. On the one hand, ‘measure’ gives a certain rationalistic color to pleasure, and on the other hand, ‘measure’ protects pleasure from being replaced by reason. In this way, Plato turns to moderate rationalism, pioneers the principle of ‘measure’ in dealing with ethical issues, and draws a line between the gods and man

Aesthetics · Epistemology · Measure (data warehouse) · Metaphysics · Pleasure · Pleasure principle · Psychotherapist · Rationalism · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Computer Science · Historical Philosophy and Science · Philosophy · Psychology

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