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274 self-indulgence, or as centring in mere sensual pleasure. This was the most palpable, most vivid, and most intelligible sort of happiness with which they were acquainted; while physical pain, on the other hand, was the only misery which they could readily understand: and accordingly, in the early and rude periods of society, sensational pleasures were eagerly pursued, as the only true and distinct constituents of happiness, while sensational pains were carefully avoided, as the only true and distinct constituents of misery; and these are regarded as the true elements of happiness or of misery. Of course, instances would occur, even during such times, in which individuals, and even multitudes, would encounter danger and death under the excitement of some strong passion. But I speak of man in his ordinary state, and when left to the guidance of his natural and normal inclinations. These would prompt him to court sensational pleasure, and to shun sensational pain, whenever it was in his power to do so.

8. This, accordingly, was the opinion entertained by Aristippus in regard to happiness. He viewed it as convertible with pleasure; and in this respect he differed widely from the sentiments of Socrates, who, whatever his opinion as to happiness may have been, certainly did not regard it as centring in the pleasures and enjoyments of sense. Thus Aristippus, dissenting from the opinions of his master, although he may have supposed that he was reducing these