Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Good can't be one thing while what makes us reasonably happy is something else. If what comes first isn't good, then what follows can't be good either. For the second thing to be good, the first thing must be good too. But you wouldn't say this if you're thinking straight. If you did, you'd contradict both Epicurus and your other beliefs. So you're left with this: the soul's pleasure comes from bodily pleasure. And those bodily things must come first and be the real nature of what's good.

Discourses, To the Administrator of the Free Cities Who Was an Epicurean 222 of 388
Knowing Yourself What Matters Most
Epictetus — The Slave Original

for good cannot be one thing, and that at which we are rationally delighted another thing; nor if that which precedes is not good, can that which comes after be good, for in order that the thing which comes after may be good, that which precedes must be good. But you would not affirm this, if you are in your right mind, for you would then say what is inconsistent both with Epicurus and the rest of your doctrines. It remains then that the pleasure of the soul is in the pleasure from things of the body; and again that those bodily things must be the things which precede and the substance (nature) of the good.

Discourses, To the Administrator of the Free Cities Who Was an Epicurean 222 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

Are the good things of the best part of us under our control or not? They are under our control. So is pleasure of the soul something we control? Yes, he said. But what should this pleasure depend on? On itself? That doesn't make sense. There must first be some actual substance or nature of good. When we get hold of it, then we'll have pleasure in the soul. He agreed with this too. So what should this pleasure of the soul depend on? If it depends on things of the soul, then we've found the substance of good.

Discourses, To the Administrator of the Free Cities Who Was an Epicurean 221 of 388
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

And are the good things of the best within the power of the will or not within the power of the will? They are within the power of the will. Is then the pleasure of the soul a thing within the power of the will? It is, he replied. And on what shall this pleasure depend? On itself? But that cannot be conceived; for there must first exist a certain substance or nature ([Greek: ousia]) of good, by obtaining which we shall have pleasure in the soul. He assented to this also. On what then shall we depend for this pleasure of the soul? for if it shall depend on things of the soul, the substance (nature) of the good is discovered;

Discourses, To the Administrator of the Free Cities Who Was an Epicurean 221 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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