Epicurus' Typology of Desire

"Among desires some are natural and necessary, some are natural but not necessary, and others neither natural nor necessary, but due to idle imagination." (PD XXIX P 503b)

"Of desires, all that do not lead to a sense of pain, if they are not satisfied, are not necessary, but involve a craving which is easily dispelled ..." (PD XXVI P 503b)

"... of the necessary [desires,] some are necessary for happiness, others for the repose of the body, and others for very life." (LM P 500b)

Kinds of Desire:

  1. Natural and necessary
  2. Natural but not necessary
  3. Neither natural nor necessary ("vain" LM 500b)


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Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 27 November 2002