Plato
Hellenic Sculpture: Capitoline Venus (III-II BC) 
Plato (427-347 BC)
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A 3 states theory: Pleasure and Pain are states that depart from the Neutral
state.
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The body organs are subjected to exhaustion and replenishement, with a
certain intensity and rate. Pain is the destruction of organic harmony,
pleasure is its recovery, and Neutral is harmony itself.
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Plato introduces independent non-organic (mind) components to the emotions,
based on the principles of want and satistfaction of want.
The soul is divided into a immortal part, located in the head, and
a mortal part, distributed over the body. Philosophical and intellectual
love of beauty are located in the immortal soul. Other 'regular' emotions
are located in the mortal soul.
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Plato's theory is one of the first to propose that the soul affects the
body, and the body affects the soul.
For More Information
- The Republic :
10 Books on line (M.I.T.).
- The Protagoras
on line: The concept of pleasure. (M.I.T.).
- The Timaeus on
line: Pain and Pleasure (M.I.T.).
Author: Jean-Marc Fellous
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