The Anti-Hedonist's Argument

A critic of Epicurus will need to do better than just insult him for being a debauched and mindless pleasure seeker. To that accusation, Epicurus will say, I believe you have Aristippus the Younger in mind. My hedonism is thoughtful, and requires me to resist pleasure just as often as I partake in it. Can the critic do better? He can if he has read his Plato. The best we can do is break even, with the pain of thirst being balanced out by the pleasure of drinking.